Excavated from Nishimiyayama Tumulus, Tatsuno-shi, Hyogo.
6th century.
Height 37.4cm, Diameter 21.0cm, Body diameter 18.8cm, Bottom diameter 20.8cm.
Kyoto National Museum
　This is a type of decorative jar with a wide mouth and base, to which small vases and statues have been attached on the shoulders, a form common to burial mounds of the 6th century. It is a type of decorative jar with four small jars placed on the shoulders of a wide-mouthed jar with a large trumpet-shaped opening, between which are a group of small statues of figures and animals. The first group is composed of four figures, two of whom are holding horns together. The two are holding a kakuroyoku, and the gyoji is standing next to them with his hands clasped together. The figures next to them may represent the audience. The second group depicts two fawns and a person, who are cuddling up to the parent fawn, which is crouching with its head raised high, in search of milk. The third group consists of three figures, two of whom are carrying a load hanging from a balance pole on their shoulders, and the figure following them is carrying a large load on his back. The fourth group is missing only a small animal figure, and its contents are unknown. All of them are simple clay strings twisted together, but the movements of the figures are well captured. The vessels are well-fired and have a grayish-black color characteristic of this period. This is one of the representative examples of decorated Sue ware.
