The Haniwa appear in various shapes and sizes, depicting warriors and weapons, homes and animals alike. Much like the Dogu the Haniwa were made of earthenware, however all of the figures in this case were hollow so that they could be placed upon poles surrounding the tomb. The objective of the Haniwa “is thought that this practice in Japan took the place of the ancient Chinese custom of burying servants and goods with the dead ruler” perhaps so they were able to protect the tomb and the spirits of those buried beneath the mound in the after life. The resemblance of the figures of the Haniwa and that of the Dogu have key differences, however there are similarities are striking enough that they should not go unnoticed. To revisit the similarities, the Haniwa and the Dogu come from the same culture and are made from the same materials, in much of the same way. Many designs are added to both products to enhance their appearance or give them added significance. Both have the potential for having a spiritual significance beyond existing as a work of art. It is in what the figures appeared as and their exact uses that the differences begin to shine through. The Dogu were figures that were either humanoid or a beast hybrid, while the Haniwa could be anything from inanimate objects to living ones. The Dogu were most likely used by a multitude of people for various purposes, while the Haniwa were created to surround the mound of the ruler’s
The Haniwa appear in various shapes and sizes, depicting warriors and weapons, homes and animals alike. Much like the Dogu the Haniwa were made of earthenware, however all of the figures in this case were hollow so that they could be placed upon poles surrounding the tomb. The objective of the Haniwa “is thought that this practice in Japan took the place of the ancient Chinese custom of burying servants and goods with the dead ruler” perhaps so they were able to protect the tomb and the spirits of those buried beneath the mound in the after life. The resemblance of the figures of the Haniwa and that of the Dogu have key differences, however there are similarities are striking enough that they should not go unnoticed. To revisit the similarities, the Haniwa and the Dogu come from the same culture and are made from the same materials, in much of the same way. Many designs are added to both products to enhance their appearance or give them added significance. Both have the potential for having a spiritual significance beyond existing as a work of art. It is in what the figures appeared as and their exact uses that the differences begin to shine through. The Dogu were figures that were either humanoid or a beast hybrid, while the Haniwa could be anything from inanimate objects to living ones. The Dogu were most likely used by a multitude of people for various purposes, while the Haniwa were created to surround the mound of the ruler’s