Tomb Sculpture ("Haniwa"): Monkey

This haniwa, or terracotta tomb figurine, splendidly portrays a monkey in mid-movement, as if startled by a sound. As both arms and the lower half of the body are missing, the figurine's original shape is a mystery. However, a large mark indicates something was attached to the back, so it is thought this monkey may have once carried a baby. If this is the case, then perhaps the monkey is turning its face to the side to look at its child. Maybe this is a depiction of a mother caring for her young. The face creates a striking impression with its overhanging forehead, childlike mouth, wide, almond-shaped eyes, and upper lip extending down from the small nose. The face is still tinged with a faint redness, too. All in all, the figurine brilliantly captures the characteristics of a monkey, despite its simplified, unsophisticated shape.

No other monkey-shaped haniwa have been found, so this piece is also extremely valuable for the study of diversity in haniwa. This figurine is attributed to the Okisu Dainichizuka Tumulus – scallop-shaped tumulus around 40 meters in length. A horizontal stone chamber, made of a rock called mica schist, still exists at the site today. Tomb sculptures depicting monkeys are extremely rare. Traces on this monkey's back suggest it once carried a baby, which is now lost. The head is slightly turned as if to check on its baby. The maker deftly portrayed the expression of this mother monkey.

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