Tenno-no-mori Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Kansai, Japan
Tenno-no-mori Kofun is a large keyhole-shaped burial structure within the Otokuni Kofun Cluster featuring distinctive terraced levels and surrounding moats. The mound contains various artifacts including weapons, bronze mirrors, and pottery that reveal the high social status of the person interred within.
This burial mound was built during the Kofun period between the 3rd and 7th centuries, marking a time of emerging social hierarchies in early Japan. It was created in an era when such elaborate burial structures became symbols of power and wealth.
Terracotta figures called haniwa were positioned around the mound to mark sacred spaces and protect the burial site according to ancient Japanese traditions. These figures demonstrate the importance of ritual practice in preparing for the afterlife.
This site is located within a cluster of multiple kofun and offers space for exploring burial practices from this era. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the terrain includes several elevated areas and open ground to walk across.
This kofun represents one of approximately 161,000 documented ancient burial sites across Japan, demonstrating the extensive funerary practices of early Japanese civilization. Such vast numbers of burial monuments reveal an organized society that sustained these practices over centuries.
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