Japan – Mozu-Furuichi tumulus clusters

The World Heritage Committee decided to inscribe a group of ancient tombs in Osaka Prefecture to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List at its meeting in Baku.   Collectively called the Mozu-Furuichi tumulus clusters, the group of burial mounds, or kofun in Japanese, was built from the late fourth to the late fifth centuries — during the height of the Kofun period (ca 300-ca 710) — on the southern Osaka Plain, which was a political hub at the time.

14 May 2019 – TOKYO (Kyodo) — A UNESCO advisory panel has recommended adding two ancient tumulus clusters in western Japan, including the country’s largest keyhole-shaped mound named after an emperor, to the World Cultural Heritage list, a Japanese government official said.

Among the sites is the Emperor Nintoku mausoleum in Osaka Prefecture, officially called Daisen Kofun. It is one of the three largest mounded tombs in the world, together with the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in China and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun, Ancient Tumulus Clusters, are ancient burial mounds constructed between the late 4th century and the early 6th century and include the tombs of Emperor Nintoku and Emperor Ojin, as well as other ancient tombs of varying sizes, and are looking to be awarded World Heritage Site status. Nearby is the oldest highway in Japan, the Takenouchi Highway, along which you will find historical establishments such as temples connected to Prince Shotoku.Next to King Khufu’s Pyramid and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun is one of the three largest tombs in the world. Constructed in the mid 5th century, it is 486m long and is the largest keyhole-shaped tumulus in Japan. At Sakai City Museum, in the adjacent Daisen Park, you can experience its grandeur on a 200-inch-large screen.http://kansai.gr.jp/route/spot/area-takenouchi/

In the Furuichi Kofungun, Ancient Tumulus Clusters, there are many graves of varying sizes scattered around, including the second largest tumulus in Japan that belongs to Emperor Ojin. In the nearby Osaka Prefectural Chikatsu Asuka Museum, there are many artifacts on display, including earthenware and haniwa terracotta figures that were buried in the tomb. In the future, the Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun Burial Grounds hope to be awarded World Heritage Site status.

The Japanese government has sought the listing of 49 tombs built between the late fourth and the late fifth centuries, which vary in size and shape.

The Emperor Nintoku mausoleum, which is part of the Mozu cluster in the city of Sakai, has a keyhole-shaped mound at its center, which is 486 meters in length. Its total length, comprising the surrounding moat and ramparts, is 840 meters.

Some academics have expressed doubt the tomb may have actually been the grave of Emperor Nintoku, but the site continues to be managed by the Imperial Household Agency as one of the imperial mausoleums in the country.

Approximately 10 kilometers to the east of the Mozu cluster is the Furuichi cluster, which includes the Emperor Ojin mausoleum, the second largest in Japan, with a length of 425 meters.

Local authorities first proposed the tomb clusters as a World Cultural Heritage site candidate to Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs in September 2007. The government submitted a letter of recommendation to UNESCO to seek its listing in January last year.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190514/p2g/00m/0na/002000c

***

read more:

Mozu-Furichi tumulus – Japan

Japan Mozu Kofungun (Ancient)