Description
- About this item
- The Haniwa are terracotta clay figures which were made for ritual use and buried with the dead as funerary objects during the Kofun period (3rd to 6th century AD) of the history of Japan. Haniwa were created according to the wasumi technique, in which mounds of coiled clay were built up to shape the figure, layer by layer. During the Kofun period, a highly aristocratic society with militaristic rulers developed. The most important of the haniwa were found in southern Honshū and northern Kyūshū. Haniwa grave offerings were made in numerous forms, such as horses, chickens, birds, fans, fish, houses, weapons, shields, sunshades, pillows, and male and female humans. Besides decorative and spiritual reasons of protecting the deceased in his afterlife, these figures also served as a sort of retaining wall for the burial mound. The origin of haniwa started during the latter part of the Yayoi Era around the Kingdom of Kibi. During this time special earthenware figurines and bowls started to appear on top of the tombs of leaders. The early sculptures exceeded 1 meter (3 feet) in length. They consisted of a cylindrical portion which represented the torso, and a skirt-shaped portion at the base, which represented the legs. Many times a special insignia or pattern would be displayed on the torso. During the latter part of the 3rd century AD, these sculptures started to appear on top of the imperial grave mounds in the Kinai region. During this time more elaborate haniwa would appear along with earthenware bowls. It is believed that the movement of these sculptures and haniwa from the Kibi region to the Kinai region is indicative of an increase in the importance. There is a theory that the soul of the deceased would reside in the haniwa, as the earlier haniwa were placed on top of the funeral mounds. There are haniwa that are equipped with weapons and armor, and these are also thought to be containers for souls. The armor and weapons would serve the purpose of driving away evil spirits and protecting the buried ruler from calamity. ›See more product details
The lamps are constructed with washi which is a kind of handmade paper of good texture, durability and translucence. The word "washi" is composed of "wa" which means "japanese," and "shi" which means "paper". It refers to Japanese paper handmade using traditional methods, derived from the ancient art of papermaking. The washi is achieved with very fine handwork. This paper has been used for centuries in Japanese homes for their ability to filter the light, softening the intensity and creating subdued lighting. The washi is traditionally produced using vegetable fibers from bamboo, hemp, rice, mulberry and other local plants. Since 2014, the washi has been associated in the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. ******** A special first rate, high-quality washi is used. The lamps are completely handmade by Shino Iwamura, from the conceptual drawings to the coloring by hand. LED candle included. To avoid shipping problems, the batteries are not included. The quality of each lamp is absolutely guaranteed! (^_^) WARNING The lamps MUST NOT be used with real candles. DIMENSIONS Height 26 cm / 10.2 inch --- Diameter 12 cm / 4.7 inch ******** I use high quality materials and I guarantee that with my professional means of production, the products will maintain their original quality and design. The greatest satisfaction of doing this job, is knowing that there are people around the world who purchase my products, places that I will probably never visit. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (^_^)
