Kofun

There is also a Kofun period in Japanese history

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

Daisen Kofun, the largest tomb of Emperor Nintoku in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture (5th 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 (zenpo-koenfun (前方後円墳)) which is unique to ancient Japan.

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