造山古墳 | |
 Tsukuriyama Kofun | |
  Tsukuriyama Kofun Show map of Okayama Prefecture Tsukuriyama Kofun (Okayama) (Japan) Show map of Japan | |
| Location | Kita-ku, Okayama,Okayama Prefecture,Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | San'yō region |
| Coordinates | 34°40′25.63″N133°48′13.35″E / 34.6737861°N 133.8037083°E /34.6737861; 133.8037083 |
| Type | Kofun |
| History | |
| Founded | early 5th century |
| Periods | Kofun period |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes (museum) |
 | |
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Tsukuriyama Kofun (造山古墳) is a cluster ofKofun periodburial mounds located in the Shinjōshita neighborhood ofKita-ku, Okayama,Okayama Prefecture, in theSan'yō region ofJapan. The cluster was designated aNational Historic Site of Japan in 1921.[1] The main Tsukuriyama Kofun is the largest burial mound in Okayama Prefecture and the fourth largest in Japan.
The Tsukuriyama Kofun is azenpō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳), which is shaped like a keyhole, having one square end and one circular end, when viewed from above. The tumulus was built by cutting a hill on the right bank of the Ashimori River in the western part of Okayama city. The tumulus consists of three tiers, and each tier was lined with cylindricalhaniwa and covered withfukiishi. It has a length of approximately 350 meters, and is estimated to have been built in the first half of the 5th century. A characteristic of this burial mound is that the ratio of the posterior circular portion to the length of the mound is large. The anterior portion is thought to have been modified in theSengoku period, when aShinto shrine was constructed, and a hamlet exists on the southeastern end of the mound. Thechozubachi placed next the shrine is the body part of a hollowed-outsarcophagus made oftuff, and fragments of the lid of the sarcophagus are scattered on the right side of the shrine. This sarcophagus is presumed to have been robbed from one of the tumuli in this area at some unknown date. From the size of the tumulus, it is believed to be the tomb of the 5th century kings of theKingdom of Kibi. The posterior portion was also flattened and was used as a fortification and lookout point duringToyotomi Hideyoshi's invasion of western Japan.[2]
Although it is the largest tumulus not under the control of theImperial Household Agency, full-scale academic research has not been conducted to date, and the interior has not yet beenexcavated, so details of theburial chamber andgrave goods are unknown. From 2009 to 2012, a research team fromOkayama University conducted an excavation outside of the designated historic site for the purpose of identifying the scale at the time of construction, the existence of a surrounding moat, and for confirmation of relics that can be used to estimate the construction period. As a result, the existence of a surrounding 20-meter wide moat was confirmed on the east side of the posterior circular portion, and a large number ofhaniwa fragments from various shapes ofhaniwa was recovered. In 2016, a portion of the tumulus slope collapsed due to heavy rain.[2]
There are six smallerkofun in the surrounding area, which are regarded to beingbaizuka, or ancillary tombs, for the main Tsukuriyama Kofun. The Senzoku Kofun (Tsukuriyama No. 5 Kofun) is a rare decoratedkofun, with paintings of magical symbols on the stone walls of the horizontal stone burial chamber. This keyhole-shaped tumulus has a total length of 75 meters. It was robbed in antiquity, and a stone sarcophagus remains in its anterior portion. In October 2009, the paintings were found to be detecting from the walls due to water damage, and the growth of mold was found to be problem in May 2010, leading to academic researchers detaching the murals for preservation.[2]
The Tsukuriyama Kofun Visitor Center (造山古墳ビジターセンター) was opened in April 2020.[2]
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| Sakakiyama Kofun (Tsukuriyama No. 1) | empun [ja] (円墳) circuler mound orzenpō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳) | Rear circle diameter about 40m | A horse-shaped belt hook was excavated. In addition, a divine beast mirror and copper bells were excavated. |
| Tsukuriyama No. 2 | hōfun [ja] (方墳) square mound | About 40 meters on a side | Surrounding moat exists. More than 100haniwa were unearthed in a row on the outer bank. |
| Tsukuriyama No. 3 | empun [ja] (円墳) (uncertain) | Diameter about 30 meters | |
| Tsukuriyama No. 4 | empun [ja] (円墳) circular mound orzenpō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳) | Length 55 meters | Cylindrical and figurativehaniwa (house-shaped and armor-shaped) excavated from the edge of the mound. |
| Senzoku Kofun (Tsukuriyama No. 5) | hotategata kofun [ja] (帆立貝形古墳) scallop-shaped kofun | Length 75 meters | Construction of 3 stages. It has an early horizontal stone chamber similar to the ornamental burial mounds in the northwestern part of Kyushu. In the stone chamber, there is a stone partition carved with a straight arc pattern. |
| Tsukuriyama No. 6 | empun [ja] (円墳) circular mound | Diameter 30 meters | It has a horizontal stone chamber. |
