2012年8月2日木曜日

Kofun period

26.07.2012

Today I would like to speak of Kofun period
Kofun is is an era in the history of Japan from around 250 to 538

Kofun 古墳 means ‘ancient grave’. The period is named Kofun cause its characteristic features is burial mounds.

The kofun graves have assumed various shapes throughout history.


 The most common type of kofun is known as a zempō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳, which is


 shaped like a keyhole, having one square end and one circular end, when viewed from above.

There are also circular-typed empun 円墳, "two conjoined rectangles" typed zempō-kōhō-fun 前方後方墳, and square-typed hōfun 方墳kofun (look at the first picture)
Also kofun often were arranged with ditches.

Orientation of kofun is not specified. Kofun range from several meters to over 400m long. The largest, which has been attributed to legendary Nintoku emperor, is Daisen kofun in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture: 

 Haniwa (lit.: clay ring) figures, were arrayed above

 and in the surroundings to delimit and protect the sacred areas.

Here are some pictures of haniwa


Also there  is a thought that  haniwa could be substitutes of human sacrifice. This thought is based on a legend of Kojiki/Nihon shoki describing the rule of legendary emperor emperor Suinin 垂仁天 who set practices of haniwa instead of burial of servants and slaves.


Kofun is obviously Korean influence. Burial mounds of Japan are just development of those of Goguryeo.



 it is especially well seen in mural paint:
Korean:

Kofun:


Things found in Kofun sites are obviously of Korean origin:
Swords:
Korean:


Kofun:


personal armor

Gaya:

Kofun:
A reconstruction of male clothes:

A reconstruction of female clothes:


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