Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: Tumulus

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French version

Tumulus

古墳
alternative words: Kofun, Tomb mounds
keywords: architecture
related topics: Kofun period , Emperor Ojin , Emperor Nintoku , Haniwa
related web sites: http://www.wnn.or.jp/wnn-history/ , http://www.mediajoy.com/chikatsu/cs/
explanation: In the ancient times, all the east Asian countries had got used to build tomb mounds for their kings or aristocrats. Initially square or circular forms as in other countries, Japanese tumulus evolved to a keyhole shape (Zenpo koen fun, i.e. forward-square back-circular tumulus) and sometimes their size is really huge, like Nintoku Tenno ryo of 486m long, built in the 5 century near Osaka. But in the following centuries they shrank in size because they were too expensive to build.