鳥居原狐塚古墳, Ancient circular tomb in Ichikawamisato, Japan.
Toriiharakitsuka Kofun is a circular burial mound located among agricultural fields in Yamanashi Prefecture. The site measures about 18 meters by 13 meters with a height of 1 meter, representing a typical example of ancient Japanese tomb construction from the Kofun period.
The tomb was discovered in 1893 during land development and contained a Chinese bronze mirror dated to 238 CE. This finding demonstrates that precious objects from China were already reaching Japan during this period and were placed in burials as valued grave goods.
The bronze mirror uncovered here displays inscriptions and four sacred beast designs, reflecting connections between Japan and China in ancient times. These decorative elements reveal how people valued objects from distant lands and incorporated their symbolism into burial practices.
The site requires careful navigation through agricultural land with no official parking areas nearby. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be respectful of the farming activity surrounding the mound, which remains embedded within working agricultural fields.
The bronze mirror bears a specific Chinese manufacturing inscription linking it directly to the Wu Kingdom of the 3rd century. This inscribed date is a rare feature that allowed scholars to precisely document early exchange between Japan and China during this era.
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