Haniwa
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The Haniwa (埴輪) are funerary figures (literally, "clay rings"), found in thousands of kofun era tombs (3rd-6th century CE) scattered throughout Japan.
During the Kofun period, a highly aristocratic society with militaristic rulers developed. Its horse-riding warriors 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 Honshu--especially the Kinai region around Nara--and northern Kyushu. 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.
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."
Haniwa have appeared in various contemportary video games. In the game 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. Template:Commons
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