Masked Goddess - Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Masked_Goddess

Masked Goddess
The " " (仮面の⼥神, ) is a relatively large Japanese or
clay figurine of the late Jōmon period (c. 2000–1000 BC).[1][2] Excavated from the Nakappara Site
in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, it is exhibited at the nearby Togariishi Museum of Jōmon
Archaeology. Alongside "Hollow " from Hokkaidō, the " with palms pressed together"
from Aomori Prefecture, "Jōmon Goddess" from Yamagata Prefecture, and "Jōmon Venus", also
excavated in Chino, it is one of five that have been designated National Treasures.[2][3][4]

"Masked Goddess", 2nd millennium BC

Nakappara Site

The Nakappara Site (中ッ原遺跡), where the Masked Goddess was found, is a Middle- to early
Late- Jōmon site (c. 4th–2nd millennium BC) covering an area of some 32,000 square metres
(340,000 sq ft) of what is now Chino, in a mountainous area of central Honshū.[1][5] From the site,
Mount Kirigamine, Mount Tateshina, Mount Yatsugatake, and Mount Moriya are all visible.[5] The
Nakappara Site occupies the plateau on a ridge running some 320 metres (1,050 ft) east to west
and 100 metres (330 ft) north to south, at an altitude of approximately 950 metres (3,120 ft)
a.s.l.[5] Long-recognized as a site of archaeological and historic importance, Prince Fushimi
Hiroyasu conducted initial excavations in 1929.[5] Further excavation between 1992 and 2001
uncovered over two hundred pit-dwellings and 3,300 post-holes, burial pits, and storage areas.[5]
Finds include a large quantity of stone tools and earthenware, obsidian, jade, and amber.[5][6]

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Eight ceramic vessels found near the pit in which the was excavated are included within the
National Treasure designation.[7][8] The Tanabatake Site (棚畑遺跡), where the known as
Jōmon Venus was found, is not far away, making the area one of great importance for
studies.[1]

Excavation

The Masked Goddess was excavated on 23 August 2000[2] from pit No. 70,[9] one of what is
understood to have been a series of burial pits near the centre of the site.[1][8] It was likely
interred alongside the deceased as a funerary offering.[1] The figurine was found lying on its left
side, its left arm touching the pit floor.[1] Its right leg had been intentionally broken, possibly
relating to some misfortune afflicting the deceased, and the pieces variously positioned.[2][8]
Most of the right leg was oriented at ninety degrees to how it would have naturally joined to the
hip, with fragments found inside both the bulk of the right leg and the torso.[8]

Description

The hollow[1] figurine takes its name from the tilted,[1] triangular mask that covers the face, with
lines on top resembling the string with which such a mask might be tied on[2]—or her eyebrows.[8]
There is a small hole near the point, as if for the mouth, with smaller holes above perhaps for the
nostrils.[8] The short, extended, stylized arms culminate in spiral pattern ornament.[1] Concentric
circles ring the slight "protuberance" upon the belly, the swelling of which is perhaps suggestive
of pregnancy.[1] Below are feminine wide hips and "realistic female genitalia".[1] Her rather solid
legs have been likened to inverted clay pots.[1] The incised decoration, suggestive of clothing,
includes a sash-like design extending from the left shoulder to the right flank, and is to be found
also on the back, alongside areas of the "erased cord marking" ( ) that is common
on contemporary ceramic vessels.[1] In some areas, the burnishing is such that the surface
almost shines.[1]

The figurine is 34 centimetres (13 in) in height and weighs some 2.7 kilograms (6.0 lb), making it
relatively large amongst .[1][2] It was produced by joining strips of clay, resulting in its hollow
form.[8] The small holes on the top of the head, at the mouth, on the side of the neck, on the belly,
between the legs, and on the soles of the feet, are not only stylistic features but would also have
helped vent air and prevent the exploding during firing.[10][11]

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Designation and exhibition

In 2006 the figurine was designated an Important Cultural Property,[7] a designation upgraded in
2014 to that of National Treasure.[7] Now restored,[12] the is owned by the City of Chino,[7]
where, like Jōmon Venus,[13] she is on display at the Togariishi Museum of Jōmon Archaeology.[7]
Exhibitions in which the Masked Goddess has featured include , at the British
Museum in 2009,[1] , at Tokyo National Museum in
2018,[14] and later the same year, alongside the other four National Treasure ,
at the Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris, as
part of Japonisme 2018.[15] A replica of the Masked Goddess is to be found at the Nakappara
Jōmon Park (中ッ原縄⽂公園) in Chino, where the pit in which the was found is preserved in
its original location.[8][16]

See also

• List of National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)

• Jōmon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan

• Historic Sites of Nagano Prefecture

References

1. Kaner, Simon, ed. (2009). . The British Museum

Press. pp. 28, 117. ISBN 978-0714124643.

2. "National Treasure "Dogu" part 2: "Kamen no Megami" (the Masked Goddess)" (https://www.city.chin
o.lg.jp/site/togariishi/1751.html) . Chino City. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

3. "Database of National Cultural Properties (search term: ⼟偶)" (https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/in

dex) . 国指定⽂化財等 データベース. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

4. "National Treasures of Japan" (https://www.tnm.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=1648&lang=e

n) . Tokyo National Museum. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170404035734/http://www.
tnm.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=1648&lang=en) from the original on 4 April 2017.
Retrieved 24 October 2023.

5. 中ッ原遺跡 (https://www.city.chino.lg.jp/site/jomon/1828.html) [Nakappara Site] (in Japanese).

Chino City. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

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6. ⼩池, 岳史 (1993). Chino City Board of Education (ed.). 中ッ原遺跡 (https://sitereports.nabunken.go.jp

/885) [ ] (in Japanese). Chino City Board of Education. doi:10.24484/sitereports.885
(https://doi.org/10.24484%2Fsitereports.885) .

7. ⼟偶∕⻑野県中ッ原遺跡出⼟ (https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/201/00011237) [Dogū

excavated from the Nokappara Site, Nagano Prefecture] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Retrieved 24 October 2023.

8. 国宝「⼟偶」（仮面の⼥神） (https://www.city.chino.lg.jp/site/togariishi/1754.html) [National

Treasure "Dogū" (Masked Goddess)] (in Japanese). Chino City. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 24 October
2023.

9. "The pit of the National Treasure "Dogu" (the Masked Goddess)" (https://www.city.chino.lg.jp/upload
ed/attachment/13369.pdf) (PDF). Chino City. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

10. 「仮面の⼥神」の孔（あな）の話 (https://www.city.chino.lg.jp/site/togariishi/1732.html) [The Story

of the Holes in the "Masked Goddess"] (in Japanese). Chino City. 3 December 2018. Retrieved
24 October 2023.

11. 普段は⾒ることができない「仮面の⼥神」の⾜の裏 (https://www.city.chino.lg.jp/site/togariishi/1736.h

tml) [The Soles of the Feet of the "Masked Goddess", that one usually cannot see] (in Japanese).
Chino City. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

12. Moriya Masafumi 守⽮昌⽂ (2017). 国宝⼟偶「仮面の⼥神」の復元 : 中ッ原遺跡 [

] (in Japanese). Shinsensha 新泉社.
ISBN 978-4787716408.

13. "Togariishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology (Togariishi Jomon Koukokan)【尖⽯縄⽂考古館】" (http

s://www.city.chino.lg.jp/site/togariishi/1758.html) . Chino City. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 24 October
2023.

14. Tokyo National Museum; NHK; The Asahi Shimbun, eds. (2018). 縄⽂―1万年の美の⿎動 [
] (in Japanese). NHK, The Asahi Shimbun. p. 254.

15. ⽂化庁主催海外展「縄⽂－日本における美の誕⽣」展 （於フランス・パリ）の開催 (https://www.bunk

a.go.jp/seisaku/kokusaibunka/bunkazaihogo/kobijutsu_kaigaiten/1410026.html) [Overseas
Exhibition "Jōmon: Naissance de l'art dans le Japon préhistorique" Sponsored by the Agency for
Cultural Affairs (Paris, France) Held] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 24 October
2023.

16. 中ッ原縄⽂公園 (https://www.city.chino.lg.jp/soshiki/bunkazai/1642.html) [Nakappara Jōmon Park]

(in Japanese). Chino City. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

External links

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• Masked Goddess (https://www.city.chino.lg.jp/site/togariishi/1751.html) (Chino City)

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