Tou – Silla Clay Dolls

The tou, or Silla clay dolls, are one of the most highly regarded cultural heritages of Korea that reveal the lifestyles of the ancient Korean people. The word tou literally translates to ”clay dolls” or ”dolls made from clay.” In a broader sense, not only do these dolls take on the human form, but they also represent symbolic animals, tools, architecture, and more. While most of these figurines were made from clay, other materials were used in the process as well. For example, animal bones, wood pieces, stones, straw, and leaves are commonly found in these dolls. However, a majority of the tou artifacts that remain today were made from clay.

 

These dolls are said to have been made for similar purposes in both the East and the West. They have been used as toys or pets in Europe, such as Rome and Greece, while most of them were used for incantation or burial purposes in the East. The practice of burying the deceased with items they owned or people they were close with was prevalent until the Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.- 668 A.D.). Much of the tou were discovered in the city of Gyeongju. For example, figurines of two horsemen, one thought to be the warrior and the other, the servant, were found in the Golden Bell Tomb. Such figurines suggest that servants were also made into clay figures to accompany their deceased masters into the next life.

 

One of the fundamental characteristics of the tou is the representation of body figures. Even though the face, hands, and feet are extremely omitted, distinctive body features of the male and female are clearly emphasized. For instance, the chest, waist, and hips of a female tou is likely to be emphasized for distinction. These representations were widely adopted because ancient Koreans worshipped goddesses and mothers in their hope for abundance and fertility. However, the male tou is far more frequently seen and diverse in appearance than the female tou.

 

Clay figurines were not only discovered in Korea but in many countries around the world, sharing different characteristics. There are also specific names for tou depending on the country and period of production, but generally, the purposes for which they were used were similar. None of the clay figurines were made in the same way, and each of them has its own unique significance and embodies the spirit of the person, animal, or object it replicates.

 

Written by: Yini Lin.

From Hawaii, United States. University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Class of 2021. B.A. Candidate in Korean Language Flagship. B.A. Candidate in Asian Studies. Exchange student at Korea University. Intern at VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea)