Haniwa Base of a Figure - Public domain museum image. A black and white photo of a vase

Haniwa are terracotta figures made in ancient Japan during the Kofun period (3rd to 6th centuries). They were typically used as funerary objects, placed around tombs to protect and serve the deceased in the afterlife. Haniwa come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including human figures, animals and houses. They are important artefacts for understanding the religious and cultural practices of ancient Japan.