Clay pillow - Haniseimakura

Japanese: 埴製枕 - はにせいまくら

A specially made clay object for placing the head of a corpse. Several examples from the Kofun period are known, each with a different shape. The Toroyama Kofun example from Nakayama-cho, Tenri City, Nara Prefecture, is a low box shape measuring 31 cm wide and 29 cm long with an outward curved bottom. There is an Ω-shaped depression on the top where the head can be placed, and the outer periphery is decorated with sawtooth patterns and other designs. It is similar in shape to a stone pillow and is the oldest example dating to the 4th century. The Nekozuka Kofun example from Nishikawachi-cho, Gojo City, Nara Prefecture, is a kamaboko-shaped hollow object measuring 30 cm wide, 24 cm long, and 14 cm high, with a circular depression on the top.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

遺骸の頭部を安置するために特製した土製品。古墳時代に数例が知られており，それぞれ形態が相違する。奈良県天理市中山町灯籠山（とうろうやま）古墳例は，幅31cm，長さ29cmの低い箱形を呈し，底面は外湾する。上面に頭部をおくΩ形のくぼみを設け，外周を鋸歯文などで飾る。石枕（いしまくら）の形態に近く，4世紀に入る最古品である。同県五条市西河内町猫塚古墳例は，幅30cm，長さ24cm，高さ14cmの蒲鉾（かまぼこ）形をなす中空品で，上面に円形のくぼみをそなえる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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