Kofun means burial mounds built from earth between the mid-3rd century and the 7th century. During this period, these graves were constructed by many prominent figures, ranging from the Yamato Royal Clan to unknown middle-class families in regions from Hokkaido to Kyushu.

The reason for building Kofun mounds was to display the posthumous prestige of the rulers in their regions. Naturally, the larger the Kofun, the more powerful the buried person was. The rulers of all Japan built enormous burial mounds. That’s why Emperor Nintoku’s Kofun in Osaka is so large.

Emperor Nintoku Kofun

Number

There were about 160,000 kofun on Honshu Island and Kyushu Island. About 4,700 kofun are keyhole-shaped. Some places have groups of kofun, probably due to the ruling heritage of the same family.

Kofun are roughly divided into four groups based on shape:

  1. Square in the Front, Round in the Back (keyhole shape)
  2. Square in the Front, Square in the Back
  3. Round
  4. Square

It is thought that round burial mounds with a moat from the previous Yayoi prehistoric period developed into keyhole-shaped kofun, with the addition of a ritual place bridging over the water.

Most kofun have a horizontal stone chamber.

Relics

The buried items include mirrors, gem balls, swords, arms, and harnesses. Sometimes, Haniwa dolls were excavated from the mounds.

Haniwa dolls