Anthropomorphic haniwa. Theories of interpretation

This article discusses the theories related to anthropomorphic haniwa from the burial mounds of the Kofunperiod, which were proposed by the Japanese scholars Y. Tsukada and T. Wakasa. The haniwa objects set on the mounds are described, including their main types, emergence and functioning. An overview of the sites with the largest number of haniwa groups -location, dates, composition, and arrangement of the haniwa groups - is provided. Burial mounds with numerous findings of anthropomorphic haniwa were dated to the late 5th-late 6th centuries AD. The main points of Y. Tsukada’s “theory of zones” are discussed Material evidence for analysis included the haniwa discovered at seven sites in Kanto region. The first and main zone is the one with haniwa representing sitting people. This zone symbolizes the immediate surrounding of the deceased, and each subsequent zone is placed further from the first zone. The article also presents the typological analysis of anthropomorphic haniwa proposed by Y. Tsukada based on the evidence found at the sites in various prefectures of the Japanese archipelago. The theory of another Japanese scholar T. Wakasa is based on the notions of “groups” and “rows.” According to this theory, the haniwa compositions are divided into “groups” representing various ritual and everyday activities in which the deceased might have participated, and “rows” symbolizing the property of the deceased. The theories presented provide additional information on the structure of the ancient society and mainly on its elite. Further research using the evidence from small burial mounds will make it possible to uncover more detailed semantics of haniwa.