158842Getting to Daisenryo Kofun’s Tomb, Japan

158842

Getting to Daisenryo Kofun’s Tomb, Japan

The Daisenryo Kofun Tomb (大仙陵古墳, Daisenryō kofun), Osaka Prefecture

Daisenryo Kofun is located in Sakai City in the southern part of Osaka. It is believed to be the burial site of Emperor Nintoku. But archaeologists have recently discovered that the pottery found here was only made in the 15th century. The tomb is separated by three canals. If viewed from above, it looks like an ancient key. It is recorded as the largest cemetery in Japan. and was named a World Heritage Site in 2010.

Basic information

This is Japan’s largest keyhole-shaped tomb, measuring 307m in width and 33.9m in height on its front square and 486m in length, 249m in diameter, and 35.8m in height at the rounded rear. The Engishiki (compiled 927) named the tomb Mozu-no-mimihara-no-naka-no-misasagi; at present, it is under the care of the Imperial Household Agency, which has determined it to be the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, the 16th emperor of Japan.

The tomb is three-tiered with platforms for religious ceremonies on either side of its narrowest part and is encircled by three moats, of which the current outermost moat was re-dug in the Meiji Era. In 1872, a chest-shaped stone coffin in a vertical-style stone chamber was excavated from the front mound along with swords, armor, glass pots and dishes.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, United States, contains the Saisenshiki-jutaikyo mirror and the Tanho-kantotachi sword, said to be excavated from this tomb; additionally, there are over 10 small tombs called “baicho” that have been discovered in the surrounding area. The tomb is encircled by a sightseeing walkway approximately 2.8 km long, which takes an hour to walk around. source: osaka-info

This is the largest keyhole-shaped burial mound in Japan, located in Daisen-cho. Together with Emperor Hanzei Kofun (Tadeiyama Kofun) on the north side and Emperor Richu Kofun (Ishizugaoka Kofun) on the south side, it is called the Mozu-Mimihara Three Mausoleums. . The burial mound, with its front part facing south, is 486 meters long, 249 meters in diameter, 35.8 meters high, 307 meters wide and 33.9 meters high, and was built in three stages. It has been. There is a tsukuridashi in the left and right constrictions, and there are three moats that go around, but the current outer moat was re-dug in the Meiji period.

There are fukiishi and haniwa, and human figures (female heads), waterfowl, horses, deer, and houses have been excavated from the Haniwa. In the 1950s and more recent surveys, Sue ware jars were excavated from the tsukuridashi. It has become a hot topic as a material to know the age when the burial mound was built. In 1872, a long-held sarcophagus housed in a pit-style stone chamber was discovered in the front part, and swords, armor, and glass jars and plates were unearthed. It is said that the artifacts excavated at this time were buried again, but there are detailed drawings and records, and the armor seems to have been fine, made of gilt bronze.

It is suitable for being the largest keyhole-shaped burial mound in Japan, and there are more than 10 burial mounds in the surrounding area that are thought to be burial mounds. Although it is said to be the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, it is known that it was built later than the Tomb of Emperor Richu (Ishizugaoka Tomb), contrary to the order in which Nintoku and Richu were enthroned, as reported in the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan). I’m here. It has been developed as a 2.8-kilometer roundabout.

Who was buried in kofun?

A distinct keyhole-shaped burial mound that’s considered the largest in the world. Exactly who’s buried here, however, is a bit of a mystery. Daisen Kofun, believed to be the final resting place of the mysterious Emperor Nintoku, is the largest tomb in Japan.

Address: 2 Mozusekiun-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka

7 Daisencho, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0035, Japan

Website:

How to get there:

By Train:

8 minutes walk from Mozu Sta. or
10-minute walk from Mozu Station on the JR Hanwa Line or
From Namba Station take the Nankai-Koya line to Mikunigaoka Station (NK57), which is about a 20-minute ride. The entrance to the mausoleum is a 10-minute walk from the station, or you can transfer to the JR Hanwa line and ride to Mozu Station for a shorter walk. or
Alternatively, take the JR Hanwa Line from Tennoji Station, transfer at Sakai-shi, and get off at Mozu Station (JR-R29), which takes about 15 minutes.