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Jōmon Venus

Jōmon Venus is a dogū, a humanoid clay female figurine from the Middle Jōmon period, dating to around 2500 BC. It was discovered in 1986 in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and designated a National Treasure in 1995, becoming the first Jōmon-period artifact to receive that status. Made of ocher-colored clay, the statuette is carefully polished and contains mica. Its form is thought to resemble a pregnant woman, with broad hips, a pronounced gluteal arch, prominent breasts, and an enlarged belly. Unlike most of the 20,000 dogū found in Japan, it is complete and retains all its limbs.

Jōmon Venus clay figurine with a patterned headdress, broad hips, and a rounded belly
Jōmon Venus, a clay figurine with a patterned headdress, prominent breasts, and a rounded belly.
March 2025 © · CC0
Jōmon Venus clay figurine with a headdress, slit eyes, and rounded body on a dark display base.
The Jōmon Venus figurine, a reddish-brown clay sculpture displayed on a dark base.
October 2012 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Jōmon Venus clay figurine with a stylized head, prominent breasts, and a rounded lower body on a dark base.
The Jōmon Venus clay figurine, shown with its stylized head and rounded form.
October 2012 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Jōmon Venus clay figurine shown in profile on a dark display surface.
Jōmon Venus shown from the side, revealing its stylized features and rounded form.
March 2025 © · CC0
Rear view of the Jōmon Venus clay figurine with a broad rounded lower body and flat-topped head.
Rear view of the Jōmon Venus, a reddish-brown clay figurine with a rounded lower body and incised head details.
March 2025 © · CC0

Identification

TitleJōmon Venus
Alternate namesTanabatake Venus; Venus of Tanabatake; Venus Tanabatake; Venus of Jōmon
TypeDogū figurine

Historical context

PeriodMiddle Jōmon period, c. 3000–2000 BC
Discovery year1986
Discovery contextFound during archaeological excavations before construction of an industrial park/industrial zone near Chino

Discovery and provenance

Discovery siteTanabatake archaeological site, former hamlet of Tanabatake, Chino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Site settingAt the foot of the southern slope of Mount Kirigamine in the Yatsugatake Mountains, about 140 km northwest of Tokyo
FindspotAmong the burial pits in the center of the excavation site
Associated settlementA village of 149 houses, 146 of which date to the Middle Jōmon period
Site significanceObsidian finds indicate the village was a prosperous trading center for volcanic glass

Creator

ProductionHandcrafted by human hand

Physical characteristics

ConditionComplete and undamaged, with all limbs intact
Weight2.14 kg
Height27 cm

Materials

MaterialOcher-colored clay / terracotta
SurfaceCarefully polished clay containing mica, with a black mica cover

Technique

Construction techniqueThe prominent volumes of the head, breasts, hips, and buttocks were made separately, then placed on an earthen core and fired
FiringLow-fired on the ground at 600–800 °C

Appearance

Depicted figureFemale figure, probably a pregnant woman
Physical featuresWide hips, pronounced buttocks/gluteal arch, prominent breasts, and an enlarged/pregnant abdomen
Head adornmentA hairstyle or headdress characteristic of the period
InterpretationThought to resemble a pregnant woman and, because of its features, a work of art

Location and ownership

CustodyIn the care of the city of Chino since discovery
Current display locationTogariishi Museum of Jōmon Archaeology, Chino
DesignationImportant Cultural Property of Japan (1989); National Treasure of Japan (1995)

Significance

Historical significanceFirst Jōmon-period artifact to be designated a National Treasure of Japan
Related comparisonThe Masked Goddess, discovered in 2000 at the nearby Nakappara archaeological site, was the second artifact of this kind to receive National Treasure status in 2014