The Jomon culture in Japan

The Jomon culture represents one of the earliest examples of prehistoric human societies in Japan, dating back as far as 14,000 BCE and lasting until approximately 300 BCE. Named after the distinctive cord-marked pottery (jomon in Japanese) characteristic of the period, this culture is notable for its long continuity, intricate craftsmanship, and adaptation to diverse environments. The Jomon period laid the foundations for later developments in Japanese civilization while maintaining unique traditions that set it apart from neighboring cultures in China and Korea.

The Japanese archipelago, during the last glaciation in about 20,000 BCE. Orange: regions above sea level, White: unvegetated, Blue: sea. During the last glacial maximum, the sea level was about 120 m lower than today, which caused the establishment of the land bridge between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese archipelago. This, in turn, allowed the migration of humans and animals to Japan. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 2.5)

Origins and early development

The Jomon culture emerged during the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic period in Japan. Early Jomon communities were primarily hunter-gatherers who also engaged in small-scale horticulture. The abundance of natural resources in Japan’s forests, rivers, and coastal areas provided a stable subsistence base, allowing these communities to establish semi-permanent settlements. Archaeological sites, such as Sannai-Maruyama in northern Honshu, reveal large, organized villages with pit dwellings, storage facilities, and evidence of communal activity.

Reconstruction of the Sannai-Maruyama Site in the Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It shares cultural similarities with settlements of Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula, as well as with later Japanese culture. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 3.0).

The pottery of the Jomon period is among the oldest in the world, with early examples dating back to around 14,000 BCE. These artifacts were initially utilitarian but became increasingly elaborate over time, featuring intricate designs and ceremonial purposes. This artistic evolution reflects the growing complexity of Jomon society.

Incipient Jōmon pottery, 14th–8th millennium BCE. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: public domain).

Cultural achievements and social organization

Jomon society was characterized by a sophisticated material culture, including pottery, stone tools, and lacquered objects. Their pottery, often decorated with cord patterns and abstract motifs, served both practical and symbolic functions. Some vessels were used for cooking and storage, while others held ritualistic significance, as evidenced by their placement in graves and ceremonial sites.

Jōmon pottery in the Yamanashi museum. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 4.0).

Social organization in Jomon communities appears to have been relatively egalitarian, with limited evidence of hierarchical structures. However, certain grave goods and the construction of monumental structures, such as stone circles, suggest the presence of spiritual leaders or communal rituals that reinforced social cohesion. The construction of storage pits and the accumulation of surplus food indicate the beginnings of social stratification and resource management.

Reconstruction of Jōmon period houses in the Aomori Prefecture, Japan. . Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 3.0).

Jomon people also demonstrated an affinity for symbolic art and spirituality. Dogu figurines, small clay sculptures often depicting anthropomorphic or zoomorphic forms, are believed to have been used in fertility or healing rituals. These artifacts provide insights into the spiritual beliefs and cosmology of the Jomon people, highlighting their connection to nature and the supernatural.

Left: Spray style Jōmon pottery. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 4.0) – Right: Clay statue, late Jōmon period (1000–400 BCE), Tokyo National Museum. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 4.0)

Left: Late Jōmon clay statue, Kazahari I, Aomori Prefecture, 1500–1000 BCE. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 3.0) – Right: Late Jōmon clay head, Shidanai, Iwate Prefecture, 1500–1000 BCE. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 3.0)

Interactions with neighboring cultures

While the Jomon culture developed in relative isolation due to Japan’s insular geography, it interacted indirectly with neighboring regions, particularly Korea and China. During the later Jomon period, there is evidence of contact with the Korean Peninsula, likely through trade or migration. These interactions introduced new technologies, such as rice cultivation and metallurgy, which would become more prominent during the subsequent Yayoi period.

In contrast to the agricultural societies of early China, such as those associated with the Yangshao and Longshan cultures, the Jomon culture retained its hunter-gatherer economy for millennia. This divergence reflects the abundance of natural resources in Japan and the adaptability of Jomon communities to their environment. However, the influence of Chinese agricultural and ceramic technologies is evident in later Japanese developments, bridging the gap between the Jomon and Yayoi periods.

The Korean Peninsula served as a cultural intermediary between China and Japan, transmitting technological and cultural innovations. While the Yayoi culture is more closely associated with these exchanges, the Jomon period likely saw early instances of such interactions, contributing to Japan’s gradual integration into the broader East Asian cultural sphere.

Comparison with developments in China and Korea

The Jomon culture contrasts sharply with the agricultural and urbanized societies of China and Korea during the same period. In China, the Yangshao and Longshan cultures (ca. 5000–1900 BCE) exhibited advanced agricultural techniques, centralized settlements, and early state formation, features absent in Jomon society. The Korean Peninsula, during the Chulmun period (ca. 8000–1500 BCE), displayed some similarities to the Jomon in terms of pottery and subsistence strategies but transitioned earlier to agriculture and more hierarchical social structures.

Despite these differences, the Jomon culture shares thematic parallels with its neighbors. All three regions placed significant importance on pottery, ritual practices, and community cohesion. However, the Jomon culture’s longevity and its focus on harmony with nature distinguish it as a unique case of cultural development.

Decline and transition

The decline of the Jomon culture began around 1000 BCE, coinciding with the introduction of rice agriculture and bronze tools from the Korean Peninsula. These innovations marked the beginning of the Yayoi period, which gradually replaced the Jomon way of life. The transition from hunting and gathering to a predominantly agricultural society brought significant social and economic changes, including the emergence of social stratification and centralized governance.

Although the Jomon culture faded, its legacy persisted in Japanese art, spirituality, and reverence for nature. The symbolic motifs and craftsmanship of Jomon pottery influenced later Japanese aesthetics, while the deep connection to the environment remains a cornerstone of Japanese cultural identity.

References

• Junko Habu, Ancient Jomon of Japan, 2010, Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 978-0521776707
• Yoshinori Yasuda, Jomon Reflections: Forager Life and Culture in the Prehistoric Japanese Archipelago, 2005, Oxbow Books, ISBN: 978-1842170885
• Richard Pearson, Archaeology of the Ryukyu Islands: An Early Jomon Perspective, 2019, University of Hawaii Press, ISBN: 978-0824873783
• Simon Kaner, The Power of Dogu: Ceramic Figures from Ancient Japan, 2009, British Museum Press, ISBN: 978-0714124643
• Koji Mizoguchi, The Archaeology of Japan: From the Earliest Rice Farming Villages to the Rise of the State, 2018, Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 978-0521711883
• Gerard Joseph Groot, The Prehistory of Japan, 2013, Literary Licensing, LLC, ISBN: 978-1258663018
• Mark Hudson, Ruins of Identity: Ethnogenesis in the Japanese Islands, 1999, University of Hawaii Press, ISBN: 978-0824821562
• Wikipedia article on Jomon cultureꜛ