Tag Archives: Haniwa

Proposal for Art History Essay (Wk 9)

Proposal for Art History Essay

Tentative Claim:
The probable, similar intentions behind the creation of the clay Terracotta figures found in the First Emperor’s tomb and the Haniwa figures found in a Japanese Emperor’s tomb. (Namely Emperor Nintoku and Ojin during the Kofun period)

Introduction: (Point-form)
Similar materials and similar creation techniques; the purpose behind these two mysterious figurines have always been debated back and forth. The terracotta warriors from the First Emperor’s tomb have always been largely accepted to be the replacement of live human sacrifices; whilst the origins and purpose of the Haniwa figures from Japanese Emperors have always been a mystery. Hypothetically, I propose that the similarities between the two figures from varying culture share an intimate relationship behind the intentions that the figures carries forth.

Plan for essay:
– Introduction (Claim)
> 3 supporting arguments (Condensed.)
1. Quantity and Placement of figurines
Jap: More decorative and ornamental like trophies, rewarding of the general worthy of serving by emperor’s side previously. At entrances, like guards? Huge quantity of 11k in numbers at Nintoku’s grave; three mounts too. Reflects status.
Chinese: Servants, similar to ancient Egypt. Numerous, refer to history that they are used to replace live human sacrifices due to the lack of manpower. Even to the point there is almost a battalion like sequence to them. Coloured and intricate; best for the emperor? Lifelike since they represent real funerary goods.

2. Size and appearance
Jap: Slightly smaller than life-styles, but realistic in its depiction of the samurai armour.
Chinese: Life-sized with varying expressions; have proven to be coloured but paint faded over time and erosion.

3. Materials
Jap: Clay
Chinese: Terracotta

Essay drafts:

Tentative bibliography:

1. Li Li. China’s Cultural Relics. Translated by Li Zhurun. People’s Republic of China: WuZhou Communication Press, 2004.

  1. Johnson, Hiroko. Haniwa. Encyclopedia of the Ancient World. United States of America: Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2001. Accessed March 13, 2017. http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezlibproxy1.ntu.edu.sg/eds/detail/detail?sid=4c3459f2-0168-43ed-ae4e-f39890201e31%40sessionmgr104&vid=4&hid=4110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=ers&AN=89405842.
  2. Zhang Wenli. The Qin Terracotta Army: Treasures of Lintong. Translated by Li Tianshu, Du Qimei, Zhang Siying, and Chen Haiyan. Edited by Susan Whitfield. London: Scala Books, Cultural Relics Publishing House, 1996.
  3. Alain Thote, Martin Powers, David W. Pankenier, Eugene Wang, Anthony Barrieri-Low, Edward L. Shaughnessy, Kuang Yu Chen, Jenny F.So, Wang Hui, and Liu Yang. Beyond the First Emperor’s Mausoleum: New Perspectives on Qin Art. Edited by Liu Yang. USA: Books and Projects LLC, 2014.