Ancient Figurine Reveals Secrets of Female Shamans in Early Japan

Archaeologists have unearthed a 1,500-year-old clay figurine depicting a female shaman at the Nishikaminomiya site in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, central Japan. The discovery offers new insights into religious practices during the Kofun period, an era marked by elaborate burial traditions and indigenous spiritual beliefs that predated Buddhism's widespread adoption.

The figurine was found within a moat surrounding Tumulus No. 1, one of eleven burial mounds at Nishikaminomiya, which began excavations in 2020 as part of a Tonegawa River improvement project. At approximately 49 meters long and located amid an 18-meter-wide moat, Tumulus No. 1 is among the most impressive funerary sites in the region.

Despite its age and the circumstances of its discovery, the figurine retains fine details and some pigment, making it one of the oldest anthropomorphic haniwa figures ever found in Gunma Prefecture. Haniwa are unglazed terracotta sculptures that originated as simple cylinders but evolved into representations of various objects and people during the Kofun period.

The newly discovered haniwa depicts a female shaman known as a miko, wearing the distinctive Shimada topknot hairstyle characteristic of the time. The figure is adorned with a bracelet on its right wrist and ceremonial attire overlaid by a sash. In its left hand, it holds what archaeologists interpret as a ritual implement.

This find provides significant evidence about the role of women in religious ceremonies during the Kofun period. Female shamans like those depicted were believed to play crucial roles in communicating with spiritual beings, underscoring their importance within early Japanese society. The discovery highlights the ceremonial responsibilities and social standing of female practitioners in elite contexts.

The Kofun period, spanning roughly from the third to sixth century CE, was a time of substantial cultural and political transformation for Japan. Influenced by developments on the Korean Peninsula and in China, this era saw the rise of powerful regional elites and increasingly elaborate burial practices. Indigenous religious traditions continued to be prominent alongside growing cultural exchanges with neighboring societies.

The figurine's depiction of a miko offers researchers an unusually detailed representation of ancient clothing and hairstyles, contributing to our understanding of Kofun-period attire and customs. This discovery is part of a broader body of archaeological evidence that helps reconstruct the social organization, cultural connections, and religious practices of early Japan.

By shedding light on the roles of female shamans in elite burial contexts, this find enriches our knowledge of the complex religious landscape during the Kofun period. It underscores the enduring influence of indigenous spiritual traditions even as Buddhism began to spread across the region.