The dogū are small clay figures with humanoid or animal features that originate from prehistoric Japan. They are small, ranging in size from 10cm to 30cm, and most of them have the appearance of a female body, although they do come in different styles. All dogū have big eyes, small waists, wide hips and sometimes large bellies as if pregnant. Some have heart-shaped faces while others are wearing what look like swimming goggles. Most dogū have markings on the face, shoulders and chest that are suggestive of tattoing.
Dogū come from the late Jōmon period, which extended from 14,000 to 300 BCE, a time when the Japanese people were hunter-gatherers. It was not until the fifth century CE that writing occurred in Japan, and by then dogū were no longer being…
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WellBeing (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 204