Kofun
Kofun(Cổ mồ,fromSino-Japanese"ancient burial mound" )are megalithictombsortumuliinNortheast Asia.Kofunwere mainly constructed in theJapanese archipelagobetween the middle of the 3rd century to the early 7th century AD.[1]
The term is the origin of the name of theKofun period,which indicates the middle 3rd century to early–middle 6th century. Manykofunhave distinctive keyhole-shaped mounds (zempō-kōen fun(Phía trước sau yên mồ)). TheMozu-Furuichikofungun or tumulus clusters were inscribed on theUNESCO World Heritage Listin 2019, whileIshibutai Kofunis one of a number inAsuka-Fujiwararesiding on theTentative List.[2][3]
Overview
[edit]Thekofun tumulihave assumed various shapes throughout history. The most common type ofkofunis known as azenpō-kōen-fun(Phía trước sau yên mồ),which is shaped like a keyhole, having one square end and one circular end, when viewed from above. There are also circular-type (empun(Yên mồ)), "two conjoined rectangles" typed (zenpō-kōhō-fun(Phía trước phía sau mồ)), and square-type (hōfun(Phương mồ)) kofun. Orientation of kofun is not specified. For example, in the Mozukofungroup, in Sakai, several of the circular parts are facing north, while other face east. However, there is no such formation in the Yanagimotokofungroup.Haniwa,terracottafigures, were arrayed above and in the surroundings to delimit and protect the sacred areas.
Kofunrange from several metres to over 400 m long. The largest, which has been attributed toEmperor Nintoku,isDaisen KofuninSakai City, Osaka Prefecture.
The funeral chamber was located beneath the round part and comprised a group of megaliths. In 1972, the unlootedTakamatsuzuka Tombwas found inAsuka,and some details of the discovery were revealed. Inside the tightly assembled rocks, whitelimeplasters were pasted, and colored pictures depict the 'Asuka Beauties' of the court as well as constellations. A stone coffin was placed in the chamber, and accessories, swords, and bronze mirrors were laid both inside and outside the coffin. The wall paintings have been designatednational treasuresand the grave goods asimportant cultural property,while the tumulus is aspecial historic site.[4][5]
Locations and number
[edit]
Kofunburial mounds and their remains have been found all over Japan, including remote islands such asNishinoshima.[6]
A total of 161,560 kofun tomb sites have been found as of 2001.Hyōgo Prefecturehas the most of all prefectures (16,577 sites), andChiba Prefecturehas the second most (13,112 sites).[7]
History
[edit]Yayoi period
[edit]
Most of the tombs of chiefs in theYayoi periodwere square-shaped mounds surrounded by ditches. The most notable example in the late Yayoi period isTatetsuki Mound TombinKurashiki, Okayama.The mound is about 45 metres wide and 5 metres high and has a shaft chamber. Broken pieces ofTokushu-kidai,cylindrical earthenware, were excavated around the mound.
Another prevalent type of Yayoi period tomb is theYosumi tosshutsugata funkyūbo,a square mound with protruding corners. These tombs were built in theSan'in region,a coastal area off the Sea of Japan. Unearthed articles indicate the existence of alliances between native tribes in the region.
Early Kofun period
[edit]
One of the first keyhole-shaped kofun was built in theMakimukuarea,[8]the southeastern part of the Nara Basin.Hashihaka Kofun,which was built in the middle of the 3rd century AD, is 280 metres long and 30 metres high. Its scale is obviously different from previous Yayoi tombs. During the next three decades, about 10 kofun were built in the area, which are now called as theMakimuku Kofun Group.A wooden coffin was placed on the bottom of a shaft, and the surrounding walls were built up by flat stones. Finally, megalithic stones formed the roof.Bronze mirrors,iron swords,magatama,clay vessels and other artifacts were found in good condition in undisturbed tombs. Some scholars assume the buried person ofHashihaka kofunwas the shadowy ancient QueenHimikoofYamataikoku,mentioned in the Chinese historical texts. According to the books, Japan was calledWa,which was the confederation of numerous small tribes or countries. The construction of gigantic kofun is the result of the relatively centralized governmental structure in the Nara Basin, possibly the origin of the Yamato polity and the Imperial lineage of Japan.
Mid-Kofun period
[edit]During the 5th century AD, the construction of keyhole kofun began inYamato Province;continued in Kawachi, where gigantic kofun, such asDaisen Kofunof theEmperor Nintoku,were built; and then throughout the country. The proliferation of keyhole kofun is generally assumed to be evidence of the Yamato court's expansion in this age. However, some argue that it simply shows the spread of culture based on progress in distribution, and has little to do with a political breakthrough.
A few tombs from the mid-Baekje era were excavated around the Yeongsan River basin in South Korea.[citation needed]The design of these tombs are notably different. The tombs that were discovered on the Korean peninsula were built between the 5th and 6th centuries CE.[citation needed]There remain questions about who were buried in these tombs such as nobility, aristocracy, warriors or mercenaries.
- Gallery
-
An example of keyhole-shaped mound in theEarly Kofun periodwhich was drawn in3DCG.
(Gosashi Kofun(Nara, Nara), 4th century) -
![An example of keyhole-shaped mound in the Mid-Kofun period which was drawn in 3DCG. (Nakatsuyama Kofun [ja] (Fujiidera, Osaka), 5th century)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/CG_Nakatsuyama_kofun_Southeast.jpg/337px-CG_Nakatsuyama_kofun_Southeast.jpg)
An example of keyhole-shaped mound in theMid-Kofun periodwhich was drawn in 3DCG.
(Nakatsuyama Kofun(Fujiidera, Osaka), 5th century) -
An example of keyhole-shaped mound in theLate Kofun periodwhich was drawn in 3DCG.
(Danpusan Kofun(Nagoya), 6th century)
![An example of keyhole-shaped mound in the Mid-Kofun period which was drawn in 3DCG. (Nakatsuyama Kofun [ja] (Fujiidera, Osaka), 5th century)](/translate/en.wikipedia.org?u=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3ACG_Nakatsuyama_kofun_Southeast.jpg&t=vi)
Late Kofun period
[edit]
Keyhole-shaped kofun disappeared in the late 6th century AD, probably due to the drastic reformation in the Yamato court.Nihon Shokirecords the introduction ofBuddhismduring this era, which led tocremationbecoming the primary funerary means of the nobility.
Types
[edit]Round Kofun
[edit]
Round Kofunare a kind of Kofun[9]
Square Kofun
[edit]
Square Kofun( phương mồ, hōfun) is a kind of Kofun.[10]They are not as common asZenpokoenfunof Keyhole shaped Kofun.[11]
Scallop Kofun
[edit]
Scallop Kofunis a kind of Kofun. It is defined by a circular body with a small part extending. This can make it an interrmediate between aKeyhole-shaped kofunand acircular-type kofun[12]
Famous examples includeHokenoyama Kofunin theMakimuku ruins.[13][14]: 249 dated to around 250 AD.[14]: 253 andNyotaizan Kofun.
Octagonal Kofun
[edit]
Octagonal Kofun(Bát giác mồ,hakkaku-fun)is a kind of Kofun. They are a very rare kind characteristic of Emperors
Many Japanese Emperors were buried in them includingEmpress KōgyokuinKengoshizuka Kofun.,[15][16]Emperor Tenjiinhis Mausoleum,[17]andEmperor JomeiinDannozuka Kofun[18][19]
From the end of the 6th century to the beginning of the 7th, the tumuli of the monarchs changed fromsquarehōfuntumulito octagonalhakkaku-funtumuli.[20]
List of Octagonal Kofun
[edit]- Ise Kofun (Fujioka City)
- Inari Kofun
- Oichi No.1 Kofun
- Kajiyama Kofun
- Kengoshizuka Kofun
- Gobyo Kofun
- Takei temple ruins
- Dannozuka Kofun
- Tsukamyojin Kofun
- Nakaoyama Kofun
- Nakayamasōen Kofun
- King Noguchi Kofun
- Mitsuya Kofun
- Yoshida Kofun
Zenpō-kōhō-fun
[edit]
zenpō-kōhō-fun(Phía trước phía sau mồ,two conjoined rectangles kofun)is a kind of Kofun.[21][22]They are shaped somewhat like the more keyhole shapedZenpokoenfun,but they have a square body rather than a circular one.[21][23]They tend to be smaller thanZenpokoenfun.[24]Yanaida Nunōyama Kofunis one of the largest of the type[25].
There is a specific style exemplified byYadani KofunandJinyama Tumulus ClusterandRokuji Kozuka KofunandTomisaki KofungunofŌzuka-Senbōyama Sitesasyosumi-tosshutsugata(Bốn ngung xông ra hình),which is square or rectangular, with protrusions on each of its four corners; however, it is unique in that it is not a true rectangle, but has a narrow waist, similar to a "two conjoined rectangles" type (zenpō-kōhō-fun(Phía trước phía sau mồ)). The slope of the mound is covered withfukiishi-like stones, with a row of larger stones marking its edge, and is surrounded by a two-meter wide moat. Theyosumi-tosshutsugatastyle is unique to the late middle Yayoi period and is most prevalent in western Japan in areas influenced by theIzumo culture.[25]
Joenkahofun
[edit]
Joenkahofun(Thượng yên phía dưới mồ)is a kind of Kofun.[26][27][28]Such kofun have a round dome top with a square bottom.[27][26][25]This is a quite rare type of Kofun in Japan.[26]
They are associated with theAsuka Period,[27][28]
Musashi Fuchū Kumano Jinja KofuninFuchūin Tokyo,[25]andMiyazuka Kofunare two notable examples.[25]
List of Joenkahofun
[edit]- Ishino Karato Kofun
- Sanno-zuka Ancient Tomb
- Shimizu Yanagikita No. 1 Tomb
- Tenmondai Kounai Kofun
- Nochi Kubo Ancient Tomb
- Miyazuka Kofun
- Musashi Fuchū Kumano Jinja Kofun
Corridor-type kofun
[edit]
corridor-type kofun(Hoành huyệt thức thạch thất,yokoana-shiki sekishitsu)are a kind of Kofun dug as artificial caves inAncient Japan.[29][30][31]
Zenpokoenfun
[edit]Zenpokoenfunare a notable type of Japanese ancient tombs (Kofun), which consists of a square front part (Phía trước bộ) and a circular back part (Sau yên bộ).[32]The part connecting the two is called the middle part (くびれ bộ), which looks like akeyholewhen viewed from above.[33]
UNESCO Kofun Group
[edit]This list includes the "Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan",[34]which was inscribed as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Siteon 6 July 2019.[35]
Aerial photos
[edit]-
Oyamato, Yanagimoto and Makimuku Kofun Group, Nara Prefecture, 3rd century -
Saki Tatanami Kofun Group and theHeijō-kyōsite, Nara Prefecture, 4th century -
Furuichi Kofun Group,Osaka Prefecture, 5th century
See also
[edit]
- William Gowland,a British engineer who made the first survey for Saki kofun group
- Ernest Satow,a British diplomat who wrote about kofun in Kozuke for theAsiatic Society of Japan
- Fukiishi,stones used to cover kofun
- Kofun system
- Zenpokoenfun
- empun
- square-type kofun
- zenpō-kōhō-fun(Phía trước phía sau mồ)
- hotategai-gata
- Octagonal Kofun
- corridor-typekofun(Hoành huyệt thức thạch thất,yokoana-shiki sekishitsu)
- Joenkahofun
Notes
[edit]- ^Cương điền dụ chi “Phía trước sau yên mồ” 『 Nhật Bản cổ đại sử đại từ điển 』 đại cùng thư phòng, 2006 năm.ISBN978-4479840657
- ^"Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun, Ancient Tumulus Clusters".UNESCO.Retrieved18 May2011.
- ^"Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties".UNESCO.Retrieved18 May2011.
- ^"Database of National Cultural Properties".Agency for Cultural Affairs.Retrieved14 May2011.
- ^"Database of National Cultural Properties".Agency for Cultural Affairs.Retrieved14 May2011.
- ^Đảo căn huyện di tích データベース Archaeological Database of Shimane ( Japanese )
- ^Binh khố huyện giáo dục ủy ban binh khố huyện の di tích ・ di vật số の cả nước な vị trí ( pdf file, Japanese )
- ^Krako-kagi Archaeological Museum (2013)."たわらもと2013 phát quật tốc báo triển".Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan.Retrieved2016-09-01.
- ^"About kofun -Scale and order- | Nonaka Kofun-Project for the Preservation and Utilization of Artifacts from Nonaka Kofun/Osaka University Department of Archaeology".let.osaka-u.ac.jp.Retrieved2023-11-10.
- ^"About kofun -Scale and order- | Nonaka Kofun-Project for the Preservation and Utilization of Artifacts from Nonaka Kofun/Osaka University Department of Archaeology".let.osaka-u.ac.jp.Retrieved2023-10-20.
- ^admin (2022-10-24)."iCLA Students Study Ancient Burial Mound with Dr. Darren Ashmore".International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA).Retrieved2023-10-23.
- ^Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group.Chapter 2: Description(PDF).pp. 21–163.
- ^"Hokenoyama Kofun - Long Barrow in Japan in Honshū".The Megalithic Portal.Retrieved2023-11-10.
- ^abKidder, J. Edward (2007-02-28),"Himiko and Japan's Elusive Chiefdom of Yamatai: Archaeology, History, and Mythology",Himiko and Japan's Elusive Chiefdom of Yamatai,University of Hawaii Press,doi:10.1515/9780824862848,ISBN978-0-8248-6284-8,retrieved2023-11-10
- ^ab"Kengoshizuka Kofun Tumulus, Koshitsuka-gomon Kofun Tumulus".Exploring the Footsteps of the Heroines of Asuka.Retrieved2023-10-20.
- ^ab"Octagonal burial mound said to belong to ancient Japan empress reconstructed in Nara Pref".Mainichi Daily News.2022-03-04.Retrieved2023-10-20.
- ^"Gobyōyama Kofun (in Kyōto) [Gobyoyama Kofun ngự miếu sơn cổ mồ, Tenji Tennō-ryō Tenji Tennoryo thiên trí thiên hoàng ] Passage Grave".The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map.Retrieved2023-10-21.
- ^Hays, Jeffrey."ASUKA, FUJIWARA AND ASUKA-ERA CITIES AND TOMBS | Facts and Details".factsanddetails.Retrieved2023-10-20.
- ^"Dan-no-tsuka Kofun [Dannotsuka Kofun đoạn ノ trủng cổ mồ, Jomei Tennō-ryō Jomei Tennnoryo thư ngày mai hoàng ] Passage Grave: The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map".2023-10-16. Archived fromthe originalon 2023-10-16.Retrieved2023-10-20.
- ^Niiro 1992,p. 160.
- ^ab"About kofun -Scale and order- | Nonaka Kofun-Project for the Preservation and Utilization of Artifacts from Nonaka Kofun/Osaka University Department of Archaeology".let.osaka-u.ac.jp.Retrieved2023-10-19.
- ^Laporte, Luc; Large, Jean-Marc; Nespoulous, Laurent; Scarre, Chris; Steimer-Herbet, Tara (2022-08-22).Megaliths of the World.Archaeopress Publishing Ltd.ISBN978-1-80327-321-1.
- ^Laporte, Luc; Large, Jean-Marc; Nespoulous, Laurent; Scarre, Chris; Steimer-Herbet, Tara (2022-08-22).Megaliths of the World.Archaeopress Publishing Ltd. p. 722.ISBN978-1-80327-321-1.
- ^Ikehara-Tsukayama, Hugo C.; Ruiz, Juan Carlos Vargas (2022-04-18).Global Perspectives on Landscapes of Warfare.University Press of Colorado.ISBN978-1-64642-211-1.
- ^abcdeIsomura, Yukio; Sakai, Hideya (2012).( quốc chỉ định sử tích sự điển ) National Historic Site Encyclopedia.Học sinh xã.ISBN978-4311750403.(in Japanese)
- ^abc"Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties".nabunken.go.jp.Retrieved2023-10-20.
- ^abc"Kofun Culture".t-net.ne.jp.Retrieved2023-10-20.
- ^abHays, Jeffrey."ASUKA, FUJIWARA AND ASUKA-ERA CITIES AND TOMBS | Facts and Details".factsanddetails.Retrieved2023-10-20.
- ^"Sakushima Ancient Tomb Mounds (Kofun) – tây đuôi quan quang".nishiokanko.Retrieved2023-10-23.
- ^"Unique burial concepts: Diversity of tomb systems｜Southern Kyushu's Remarkable Kofun Culture｜Kofun as World Cultural Heritage".miyazaki-archive.jp.Retrieved2023-10-23.
- ^Yamamoto, Takafumi (September 2019)."Baekje and Honam Seen from the Perspective of Construction Techniques of Corridor-Type Stone Chambers: Tomb Groups of the Ungjin Period Baekje and Yeongsan River Basin"(PDF).National Institutes for the Humanities - Bulletin of theNational Museum of Japanese History.pp. 287–288. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 29 October 2023.
- ^"Phía trước sau yên mồ".Kotobank(in Japanese).
- ^"What are these keyhole-shaped mounds?".BBC.2019-10-03. Archived fromthe originalon 2020-11-16.Retrieved2020-10-13.
- ^"Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan".UNESCO.6 July 2019.
- ^"Seven cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List".UNESCO.6 July 2019.
References
[edit]- Chim bay cao tùng trủng (Takamatsuzuka, Asuka), 橿 nguyên khảo cổ học viện nghiên cứu biên, ngày mai hương thôn, 1972.
- Phía trước sau yên mồ (Keyhole-shaped kofun), thượng điền hoành phạm, học sinh xã, Đông Kinh, 1969.
- Phía trước sau yên mồ と cổ đại ngày triều quan hệ (Keyhole-shaped kofun and diplomatic relations between ancient Japan and Korea), Triều Tiên học được biên, Đông Kinh, cùng thành xã, 2002.
- Niiro, Izumi (1992). "V cổ mồ thời đại 2 cổ mồ a trước ・ trung kỳ".Zukai Nihon no jinrui isekiĐồ giải ･ Nhật Bản の nhân loại di tích.Tokyo Diagaku Shuppankai.ISBN4-13-026200-9.
External links
[edit]
- Kofun - World History Encyclopedia
- Japanese Archaeology: Kofun Culture
- (In Japanese)Decorated Kofun Database
- Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan,Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
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