Japan's Ancient Origins: the Jōmon period

Introduction

When people think of Japan they probably think of sushi, samurai, or difficult letters. But what if I told you there was a time before rice had been introduced to Japan, before the rise of the samurai, and before written language? This post introduces the Jōmon people, the first known civilisation to occupy Japan. It shall explore how they lived, their beliefs, and what impact, if any, they had on modern Japan. 

How they lived

The Jōmon period (縄文時代) began in around 14,500 BC coinciding with the neolithic period in Europe and Asia, and ended in around 300 BC when the Yayoi period began. Jōmon culture covered all of the Japanese archipelago and, due to its isolation from the rest of Asia, can be considered quite unique.

Example of a dogū figurine

The period is marked by the production of distinctive pottery, and figurines known as dogū. In fact, the word Jōmon means "cord marked", or "patterned", referring to the iconic pottery created in this era. The approximately 14,000 year Jōmon period can be divided into several phases based on the style and intended use of pottery: Incipient (13,750-8,500 BC), Initial (8,500-5000), Early (5,000-3,520), Middle (3,520-2,470), Late (2,470-1,250) and Final (1,250-500).

The Jōmon people were semi-sedentary, living mostly in pit dwellings arranged around central open spaces. They obtained their food by gathering, fishing and hunting. Human waste from this period reveals that their diet included bears, boars, fish, shellfish, yams, wild grapes, walnuts, chestnuts and acorns.

Imagination of a Jōmon village

Jōmon technology consisted of basic stone and wooden tools such as knives and axes as well as bows and arrows, similar to neolithic technology used in Europe and the rest of Asia. Various traps and snares aided in hunting, while tools such as hooks and harpoons were used for fishing. Clothing was made from the bark of the mulberry tree and stitched together using bone needles. The Jōmon people also wove wicker baskets. Unlike Europe and the rest of Asia, agriculture was not practised until much later, near the end of the period.

Jōmon pottery was made by hand, without the use of a potters wheel, by building up from the bottom coils of soft clay mixed with other materials such as fibres or crushed shells. The surface of the pottery was then smoothed out and fired in an outdoor bonfire. Pottery was sometimes decorated with lines and waves, created by impressing a cord onto the wet clay before firing. In the Middle Jōmon Period vessels were more elaborately decorated depicting flames or snakes among other things. The "fire-flame" type (Umataka Kaen) featured vessels covered in thin rolls of clay to form lines, swirls and crests. Jōmon pottery is the oldest to be dated in the world and thousands of pieces have been found. 

Example of Umataka Kaen

Despite their lack of farming, the Jōmon were able to maintain some relatively big settlements. This was largely due to the fact that villages were built near abundant food sources, and storage pits allowed them to survive without relying on agriculture. Some villages specialised in particular types of hunting and gathering and practised trade with neighbouring communities. Archaeologists even discovered a massive village with 700 dwellings and large storehouses, which seems to have operated as a centre for trade.

Perhaps most interesting was the Jōmon people's propensity for peace. Archaeologists cite skeletal remains that show very few instances of violence-related deaths. There is also no evidence of warfare, such as mass graves of people who died violently in the same location. This supports the view held by some archaeologists that violence is not inherent to human nature but rather a consequence of agriculture, where settled groups began accumulating resources, leading to inequality and conflict.

That’s not to say life in Jōmon society was easy. The earliest Jōmon man found was only 5 feet 4 inches tall, and his wisdom teeth were unused, meaning he probably didn’t live long enough to need them. The average life expectancy for people of this era is estimated to have been around 30 years. X-rays of the man’s bones revealed growth interruptions, suggesting he experienced malnutrition several times during his childhood. This shows that while the Jōmon people may have avoided warfare, life could still be harsh, and food could be scarce.

What they believed 

The Jōmon believed that nature was inhabited by spirits, a belief system closely related to animism, where everything in the natural world—trees, rivers, rocks, and animals—was considered to possess a spiritual essence. Their rituals and the use of figurines, like the dogū, are thought to be tied to shamanistic practices, healing, fertility rites, or communicating with the natural spirits. These dogū figures often had exaggerated features or animalistic traits, perhaps symbolising the blending of humans with nature or invoking the protection of natural forces. Jōmon art often depicted animals, both real and mythical, suggesting that animals played a key role in their worldview and spiritual life. Animal figurines found in archaeological sites were likely used in rituals to honour the spirits of animals or to ensure successful hunts. The Jōmon people also practised burial rituals that suggest a belief in the afterlife and ancestor worship. Burial sites often included pottery, tools, and dogū figurines, which were likely offerings to accompany the deceased into the afterlife or to honour their spirits. Some graves were also decorated with red ochre, which might have symbolised life or rebirth. These beliefs likely influenced Shintoism, Japan's original religion, the core elements of which are reverence for nature and the worship of kami (spririts or deities).

Transition to Yayoi

Jōmon face (left) and Yayoi face (right)

The Jōmon people eventually learnt rice cultivation and metalworking from the Yayoi people, who entered Japan's southern region from Korea. The Yayoi also brought the Japonic languages, which replaced the language of the original Jōmon inhabitants. Modern Japanese people are a mix of both Jōmon and Yayoi ancestry, however a small group in the northern island of Hokkaido retained a higher percentage of original Jōmon DNA. These people, the Ainu, preserved their own language and culture and continued to practise a hunter-gatherer lifestyle even after agriculture had been introduced to Japan. However, following Japanese colonisation of Hokkaido during the Meiji period (1868-1912), Ainu culture has rapidly declined and only a few people can still speak the language.

Ainu people in traditional attire

Conclusion

What is the legacy of the Jōmon period? The DNA of the Jōmon people lives on in the modern Japanese. Additionally, Shintoism is believed to have developed from the animistic and nature-based belief systems of Japan’s prehistoric cultures including the Jōmon people. The Ainu people who occupy Hokkaido continue to provide a valuable insight into the ancient language and lifestyle of Japan's neolithic inhabitants. It is important to protect the Ainu, providing support to their communities and way of life, in order to ensure the preservation of their unique culture.