An Illustrated Guide to Reading Dogū Figurines

Product Description

Discover Dogu Is Figure!? Visual Encyclopedia of Dogu, a richly illustrated art book that explores the groundbreaking theory by historian Fumihito Takekura: Jomon dogu clay figures may actually represent plants and shellfish rather than pregnant women. Based on the acclaimed book Reading Dogu (Shobunsha, 2021), this volume unpacks the new interpretation through abundant photographs and clear illustrations, making it accessible for both enthusiasts and newcomers.

The book features 10 key dogu that support the Takekura theory—such as the Heart-shaped Dogu, Hollow Dogu, Gassho Dogu, Yamagata Dogu, Keppatsu Dogu, Shitotsubun Dogu, Star-shaped Dogu, Mimizuku Dogu, Shakoki Dogu, and Venus of Jomon—alongside many additional National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties not included in Reading Dogu. It also presents the latest ideas from Takekura, published here for the first time, and ties into the growing global interest following the registration of the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Beyond overturning the long-dominant view of dogu as fertility icons, this book invites you to experience the refined aesthetics of the Jomon people as a modern art book. Take it with you on visits to museums and galleries across Japan that house dogu collections, and see for yourself why the award-winning Takekura dogu theory is fast becoming a new standard in Japanese and global archaeology.