Kitora Tomb
Encyclopedia
The is an ancient tumulus
(kofun
in Japanese) located in the village
of Asuka
, Nara Prefecture
, Japan
. The tomb is believed to have been constructed some time between the 7th and early 8th centuries, but was only discovered in 1983.
A small stone chamber, the Kitora Tomb is a little over 1 meter in height and width and about 2.4 meters long, just large enough to bury a single person. The four walls are aligned with the cardinal points of the compass, and respectively feature the Black Tortoise of the North, the Azure Dragon of the East, the Red Bird of the South, and the White Tiger of the West. On the ceiling of the chamber there is also a star chart that has been the focus of much research and debate by scholars in the field of archaeoastronomy
. In addition, the zodiac animals-headed figures with human body are painted on the wall, which may be one of the oldest remaining zodiac murals in East Asia.
Fragments of a lacquer
ed wooden coffin, torn apart when the tomb was robbed, lay 5 cm thick on the chamber floor, mixed with grave goods and human bone. A gilded bronze
fitting and sword decorations were discovered, both executed with superbly inlaid patterns. Based upon analysis of the bone fragments and items found in the tomb, it is believed the interred was a middle-aged or older male of aristocratic
background.
The paintings have suffered the ravages of time, and, as important National Cultural Assets of Japan and World Heritage listed treasures, their preservation has been accorded the highest priority. The entire tomb has been roofed over, and a series of adjoining antechambers was constructed to isolate the central chamber from temperature and humidity fluctuations, and prevent contamination by airborne mold
spores and microorganisms.
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
(kofun
Kofun
Kofun are megalithic tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between the early 3rd century and early 7th century. They gave their name to the Kofun period . Many of the Kofun have a distinctive keyhole-shaped mound , unique to ancient Japan...
in Japanese) located in the village
Villages of Japan
A is a local administrative unit in Japan.It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture....
of Asuka
Asuka, Nara
is a village located in Takaichi District, Nara, Japan.As of September 1, 2007, the village has an estimated population of 6,146 and a density of 255.23 persons per km². The total area is 24.08 km².Asuka is the land where ancient palaces were located...
, Nara Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The tomb is believed to have been constructed some time between the 7th and early 8th centuries, but was only discovered in 1983.
A small stone chamber, the Kitora Tomb is a little over 1 meter in height and width and about 2.4 meters long, just large enough to bury a single person. The four walls are aligned with the cardinal points of the compass, and respectively feature the Black Tortoise of the North, the Azure Dragon of the East, the Red Bird of the South, and the White Tiger of the West. On the ceiling of the chamber there is also a star chart that has been the focus of much research and debate by scholars in the field of archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy is the study of how people in the past "have understood the phenomena in the sky how they used phenomena in the sky and what role the sky played in their cultures." Clive Ruggles argues it is misleading to consider archaeoastronomy to be the study of ancient astronomy, as modern...
. In addition, the zodiac animals-headed figures with human body are painted on the wall, which may be one of the oldest remaining zodiac murals in East Asia.
Fragments of a lacquer
Lacquer
In a general sense, lacquer is a somewhat imprecise term for a clear or coloured varnish that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss and that can be further polished as required...
ed wooden coffin, torn apart when the tomb was robbed, lay 5 cm thick on the chamber floor, mixed with grave goods and human bone. A gilded bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
fitting and sword decorations were discovered, both executed with superbly inlaid patterns. Based upon analysis of the bone fragments and items found in the tomb, it is believed the interred was a middle-aged or older male of aristocratic
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
background.
The paintings have suffered the ravages of time, and, as important National Cultural Assets of Japan and World Heritage listed treasures, their preservation has been accorded the highest priority. The entire tomb has been roofed over, and a series of adjoining antechambers was constructed to isolate the central chamber from temperature and humidity fluctuations, and prevent contamination by airborne mold
Mold
Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...
spores and microorganisms.
See also
- List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
- History of JapanHistory of JapanThe history of Japan encompasses the history of the islands of Japan and the Japanese people, spanning the ancient history of the region to the modern history of Japan as a nation state. Following the last ice age, around 12,000 BC, the rich ecosystem of the Japanese Archipelago fostered human...
- Kofun periodKofun periodThe is an era in the history of Japan from around 250 to 538. It follows the Yayoi period. The word kofun is Japanese for the type of burial mounds dating from this era. The Kofun and the subsequent Asuka periods are sometimes referred to collectively as the Yamato period...
- Takamatsuzuka TombTakamatsuzuka TombThe or "Tall Pine Tree Ancient Burial Mound" in Japanese is an ancient circular tomb in Asuka village, Nara prefecture, Japan.The tomb is thought to have been built at some time between the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th century. It was accidentally discovered by a local...
- Fujinoki TombFujinoki Tombis a tumulus, known as a kofun in Japanese, located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is estimated to date from the later half of the sixth century or the late seventh century. The burial mound is about 40 or 48 metres in diameter, nine metres in height, and the stone chamber the mound covers...