Database: Kofun

Kofun, or ancient burial mounds, are large tombs of various shapes that emerged in ancient Japan during the 3rd century AD. These tombs, which persisted until the late 7th to early 8th century, disappeared with the advent of the ancient state. Over the centuries, there was a notable trend towards gigantism, particularly with keyhole-shaped tombs. These monumental structures are distributed throughout the Japanese archipelago, with the most imposing examples concentrated in the Kinai region. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the largest kofun were believed to be the tombs of ancient emperors or their close relatives, as recorded in ancient chronicles.

The sarcophagus within a kofun is placed in a cavity that may be either accessible or hermetically sealed. Excavations of these tombs have uncovered a variety of artifacts, including jewelry, weapons, bronze mirrors, and sueki-type pottery. From the 5th century onwards, horse harnesses were also found. Additionally, haniwa—clay cylinders topped with various objects such as weapons (helmets, swords), boats, animals (horses, dogs), or human figures (warriors, musicians)—are commonly associated with these tombs. Fragments of broken pottery suggest that libation rituals were performed at the time of burial. Furthermore, murals, often depicting the sun in the form of spirals, adorn the walls of some tombs.