Ritual Clogs

石製下駄

At a glance — Archaeological Object · Kofun period, 5th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category: Archaeological Objects
Period: Kofun period, 5th century
Date: 401–500
Held by: Tokyo National Museum
Location: Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID: cobas-88714

Find more

Same period: Kofun archaeological objects →
At this museum: All 1632 works here →

There is a theory that people wore clogs at ceremonial occasions so as not to contaminate ritualistically-purified water.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-88714 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-88714
Holder's collection: ColBase — Tokyo National Museum
Photograph: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Ritual Clogs（石製下駄）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-88714. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/ritual-clogs/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)

Category: Archaeology:Media:Stone, precious stone
Genre: Archaeology
Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
Material: Stone (steatite)
員数: 1対
分類: 考古
品質形状: 石製（滑石）
種別: 考古:材質:石・玉
法量: 長16.8・16.0 幅8.8・8.3 厚さ3.0・2.7

Also at the Tokyo National Museum More →

National Treasure