Also written 惣型. A method of metal casting which used a clay mold. The mold was made by carving the shape of the desired form into the clay. After surface details had been engraved, heat was applied to the interior surface of the mold to harden it, and then molten metal was poured in. Sometimes an inner mold was also used *nakago 中型. This was also made of clay and was held in place during casting by metal wedges *katamochi 型持. Although the inner mold was destroyed when the metal object was removed, the outer clay mold could be preserved and reused to make other identical castings. Sōgata was traditionally used to make large metal objects such as dōtaku 銅鐸 (bronze bells), nabe 鍋 (large cooking pots), temple bells and gongs, and bronze swords and spears.