Tomb Sculpture ("Haniwa"): Dog

Unknown artist

Kofun period, 6th century

Earthenware

Tokyo National Museum

A terracotta Haniwa sculpture depicts a dog with a long snout, pointed ears, and an open mouth. The sculpture stands on four thick legs. Haniwa are terracotta ornaments that were placed on or around the tombs of rulers during the Kofun period. This cute canine is one of the most popular haniwa in our collection. It has a collar around its neck, with a round bell attached to the collar, so it must have been a domesticated animal. Let's take a closer look at the dog's appearance. With its tail curled up stiffly, the hound seems on edge. It is breathing roughly with tongue thrust out and sharp teeth bared. This suggests the hound is depicted here in the act of barking at prey. Dog-shaped haniwa have also been found with figurines of hunters or men blowing horns. This pa