Kofun

There is also a Kofun period in Japanese history

Daisen Kofun, the largest tomb of Emperor Nintoku in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture (5th century)

are earthen tombs or tumuli in Japan. They were constructed between the early 3rd century and early 7th century.

These burial mounds are referenced in the name of the Kofun period (middle 3rd century - early-middle 6th century).

Many of the kofun have a keyhole-shaped mound () which is unique to ancient Japan.

Kofun Media

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  The stone chamber of Ishibutai Kofun, said to be the tomb of Soga no Umako, Asuka, Nara Prefecture (7th century)

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  Circular groove tomb at Seta Ruins (Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture)

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  Panoramic view of Hashinaka Kofun in Sakurai, Nara

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  An example of keyhole-shaped mound in the Early Kofun period which was drawn in 3DCG.(Gosashi Kofun (Nara, Nara), 4th century)

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  An example of keyhole-shaped mound in the Mid-Kofun period which was drawn in 3DCG.(Nakatsuyama Kofun (Fujiidera, Osaka), 5th century)

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  An example of keyhole-shaped mound in the Late Kofun period which was drawn in 3DCG.(Danpusan Kofun (Nagoya), 6th century)

Related pages

• William Gowland, English engineer who made the first survey for Saki kofun group
• Ernest Satow, English diplomat who wrote about kofun in Kozuke for the Asiatic Society of Japan

References

• 飛鳥高松塚 (Takamatsuzuka, Asuka), 橿原考古学研究所編, 明日香村, 1972.
• 前方後円墳 (Keyhole-shaped kofun), 上田宏範, 学生社, 東京, 1969.
• 前方後円墳と古代日朝関係 (Keyhole-shaped kofun and diplomatic relations between ancient Japan and Korea), 朝鮮学会編, 東京, 同成社, 2002.

Other websites

• Japanese Archaeology: Kofun Culture
• Kofun Period
• Prehistoric Archaeology of Japan Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine