The Chiyomaru Kofun (千代丸古墳) is a Kofun period burial mound, located in the Miyaen neighborhood of the city of Ōita on the island of Kyushu, Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1934.[1]

Chiyomaru Kofun
千代丸古墳
Chiyomaru Kofun
Location in Japan
Location in Japan
Chiyomaru Kofun
Location in Japan
Location in Japan
Chiyomaru Kofun (Japan)
LocationŌita, Ōita, Japan
RegionKyushu
Coordinates33°13′13.0″N 131°32′35.6″E / 33.220278°N 131.543222°E / 33.220278; 131.543222
TypeKofun
History
Foundedc.7th century
PeriodsKofun period
Site notes
Public accessYes (no facilities)
Map

Overview edit

The Chiyomaru Kofun is located on a fluvial terrace approximately two kilometers west of the confluence of the Ōita River and its tributary, the Kaku River. It is an enpun (円墳)-style round tumulus with a diameter of approximately 15 meters and a height of approximately four meters. It is estimated that it was built around the beginning of the 7th century. The single horizontal cave-style stone burial chamber made of huge tuff stones opens to the south, with a total length of 8.9 meters. The burial chamber proper measures 3.6 by two meters, with a height of 2.6 meters. Some traces of vermillion paint remain. The passage is 4.8 meters long and 1.9 meters wide. Both the burial chamber and the corridor have a 1.2 meter-high hip stone placed at the bottom of the side wall, and on the back wall, a 50 cm-thick stone shelf protrudes horizontally about one meter above the platform which held the body. This tomb feature is found in Kyushu from southern Fukuoka Prefecture to northern Kumamoto Prefecture. The front surface of the stone trellis is carved into a flat surface, with line engravings of triangles, people, and animals.[2]

The tumulus is about a ten-minute walk from Kaku Station on the JR Kyushu Kyūdai Main Line.[2]

See also edit

Decorated kofun

References edit

  1. ^ "千代丸古墳" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Isomura, Yukio; Sakai, Hideya (2012). (国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia. 学生社. ISBN 4311750404.(in Japanese)

External links edit