1. A hollow clay figurine or sculpture from ancient Japan, typically depicting a human, animal, or object, placed in or around burial mounds during the Kofun period (3rd–7th centuries).
Usage: Japanese archaeology and history term; Often used in plural form as 'haniwa' or 'haniwas'

Examples

• The museum's collection includes several well-preserved haniwa figures from the Kofun period.
• Archaeologists discovered haniwa depicting warriors, musicians, and horses at the burial site.
• This haniwa shows the skilled craftsmanship of ancient Japanese potters.
• The clay haniwa was arranged in circles around the large earthen mound.
• Scholars study haniwa to understand the social structure and beliefs of ancient Japan.