Kouros and Haniwa Comparison

Kouros and Haniwa (warrior figure)

Kouros is a Greek statue from 600 BCE standing at 6 1/2 inches tall and

made out of marble. This statue is observed to be nude and emulated an

Egyptian stance. It also was used in funerary purposes and can be seen by the

emotionless expression and lifeless body. The Kouros differed in the way it was

buried, it stood outside of the tomb as a grave marker and replaced huge vases

during the Geometric Era. Not to mention, it was also used for votive offerings in

sanctuaries. The Haniwa warrior figure is from the Gunma Prefecture in Japan from the

Late Kofon Period. It is believed to be from the fifth to mid-sixth century, it stands

at 4 1/2 inches tall and was created from low-fired clay. The figure also appears

to have a deceptively whimsical expression and is in military gear. The Haniwa

was used for burial practices and was located on and around the pit grave

mounds along with being directly on the deceased. The Haniwa had varied

figures from abstract shapes to objects, animals and humans. The statues also

reflected the status of the deceased depending on how many haniwas were

given. The variety of figure types suggest that haniwa functioned not as military

guards but as spiritual barriers protecting both the living and the dead from

contamination. Both artworks served as burial/ funerary purposes. They also were not

real portraits but general representations. Offered to the dead, they remarkably

made an impact on how status and history was told.