other objects people of that time used. The military haniwa inform archeologists of the armour and weapons, as well as the status symbols of the military class. Significance Originally, the cylindrical type haniwa were set on top of the funeral mounds, so it is believed that they had a purpose in funeral rituals; however, as the haniwa became more developed, they were set toward the outside of the grave area. It is thought that they were used as boundary markers for the borders of the gravesite. There is a theory that the soul of the deceased would reside in the haniwa, as the earlier haniwa were placed on top of the funeral mounds. There are haniwa that are equipped with weapons and armor. These are thought to be containers for souls. The armor and weapons would drive away evil spirits and protect the buried ruler from calamity. Because the horse- and animal-shaped haniwa were normally neatly arranged into a line, it is believed that they were part of a sending-off ceremony. In modern society Although the religious implications of the haniwa have largely declined in modern society, the sculptures are prized by many for their aesthetic and historical significance. The works of Isamu Noguchi, for example, were heavily influenced by the haniwa. They have been accepted as "Pure Art", according to Time magazine. Beyond simple appreciation as artistic sculptures, modern popular culture has, in some cases, portrayed the haniwa as containing a sentient entity and not just as a simple empty sculpture. The portrayal of living haniwa has—since the late 1990s—become widespread, being featured in entertainment mediums, including but not limited to: video games, trading cards, movies, and television. In some of the depictions, the haniwa is primarily presented as a ghostlike, malevolent creature with no emotional remorse to complete its task. The most common portrayal depicts the haniwa with a rounded, pot-like shape, bearing two deep eyes, a wide mouth, and two featureless "arms" on opposite sides of the "pot". See also Ancient Egyptian funerary practices Cult image, also known as an idol Dogū Haniwa Terracotta Dancers Mozu Tombs Terracotta Army, of ancient China Ushabti, ancient Egyptian burial sculpture Zuijin References Further reading Park, T. (1988). Haniwa figure of a horse. Art Education, 41(5), 25. External links Haniwa warrior in keiko armor, Smarthistory Archaeology of Japan Archaeology of death Ceramic sculptures Japanese pottery Japanese dolls Japanese words and phrases