Haniwa

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The Haniwa (埴輪) are clay figures which were made for ritual use and buried with the dead as funerary objects during the kofun era.

During the Kofun period, a highly aristocratic society with militaristic rulers developed. The cavalry wore iron armor, carried swords and other weapons, and used advanced military methods like those of Northeast Asia. Many of them are represented in Haniwa figurines for funerary purposes.

The most important of the haniwa were found in southern Honshū--especially the Kinai region around Nara--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 emperor in his after life, these figures also served as retaining wall for the burial mount.

[edit] Haniwa in popular culture

In the CG-animated series Gregory Horror Show, a recurrent group of characters call themselves the Haniwa Salary-Man, and take the form of cubic little men of clay, that roam hopelessly in the world of business, salaries and promotions, not caring about their personal and spiritual lives. As the traditional Haniwa, they are empty and fragile.

In Kotetsu Jeeg, the initial monsters of the week were known as "Haniwa Genjin."

In the anime, Amaenaideyo!! Katsu!!, characters join a "Haniwa Research Club" and attempt to excavate haniwa.

In the anime Eureka Seven, the main character, Renton, sees haniwa representations of himself and his classmates during a dream.

In the anime Yakitate!! Japan, when they are brought to Saito for the final bread-making competition, a roomful of haniwa inspires the main character, Azuma, to bake the bread in the shape of a haniwa.

Haniwa have appeared in various contemportary video games: In the video games of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Series, there is a card named Haniwa

In Animal Crossing, the player can dig up various haniwa (referred to as "gyroids" in the English versions of the game).

There is also a treasure in the English version Pikmin 2 that is called a "Gyroid Statue".

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, there are Haniwa-like figures in various puzzles.

In Goemon's Great Adventure, the haniwa are the most common enemies in the game with many variations.

In SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu (Final Fantasy Legend 2 in the US), Haniwa are an extremely rare enemy in the last dungeon, which will rarely drop the most powerful weapon in the game, the Seven Sword.

In Ōkami, haniwa are a type of enemies that are encountered throughout the game.

In Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, a potter featured in one of the stages creates haniwa when a checkpoint is failed.

In We ♥ Katamari haniwa can be seen scattered amongst the games many Japanese items.

In many Final Fantasy games, the creature known as Cactuar resemble haniwa.

In La Pucelle: Tactics, haniwa are powerful enemies in the Dark World.

In Amazing Island, one of the unlockable patterns for your creature is the Haniwa pattern.