Jomon Earthenware

Japan's contribution to the world of ceramics began more than 12,000 years ago during the Jomon period. The oldest pieces of pottery were hand-built vessels (left). The term Jomon means "cord marked" which refers to the way early Japanese potters decorated their work with rope.

As the 10,000 year Jomon period went on, people began to use the ceramic process for more than just pots for cooking and food-storage. They created ceramic arrowheads and figurines (dogu). The remaining Jomon dogu, created between 1000 and 300 B.C.,  are remarkable. Not only because they lasted 3000 years, but because it's believed that they were religious instruments, intended to be destroyed once their spiritual purpose was achieved.

Fans of anime and manga take note—the use of disproportionally large eyes in Japanese art began more than 3000 years ago!Posted byUrban Jeffat4:19 PMEmail ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestLabels:ancient historyNo comments:Post a Comment

Newer PostHomeSubscribe to:Post Comments (Atom)About This BlogThis blog is intended as a resource for students in my Introduction to Japanese Ceramics course at MCG. I am by no means an expert in Japanese ceramics, I am merely an enthusiastic potter sharing what I have learned.
The posts are meant to be read from the bottom (oldest) to the top (newest).Japanese Pottery WebsiteseYakimonoTojiro MagazineJapanese PotsShiho KanzakiEuan CraigKurodatoenExplore Japanese CeramicsTotally JapaneseKurimoto GalleryRobert Yellin Yakimono GalleryJapan Pottery ToolsHotaru-GamaMingei FukudaMuseum of Oriental CeramicsJapanese Culture & EducationJapan America Society of PennsylvaniaSogetsu Pittsburgh Study GroupPittsburgh Sakura ProjectJapan Society of Greater PittsburghSavory JapanPittsburgh Japanese SchoolJapan America SocietyJapanesePod 101Expert Village Japanese LessonsTekkoshoconCeramist ResourcesGlossary of Ceramic TermsCeramic Materials DatabaseOther Pottery WebsitesJeff Guerrero CeramicsWolf's Den PotteryBill StricklandJoshua GreenYoko Sekino-BovéCera[m!x] PittsburghWestern Pennsylvania Potters CommunityThe Clay PlaceMalcolm WrightStandard Ceramic Supply Co.Mary MartinRothshank ArtworksMCG Youth & ArtsCeramic Arts DailyBlog Archive ►  2013(3) ►  October(3) ►  2011(4) ►  April(1) ►  March(2) ►  February(1)▼ 2010(11) ►  October(2) ►  September(2) ►  August(4)▼ July(3)Raku - A Brief HistoryYayoi and Kofun PeriodsPowered by Blogger.