Embedded Files
While the Daisen Kofun was designated as the tomb of the 16th emperor, Nintoku, by the Imperial Household Agency (IHA) basing on the description in the two earliest extant Japanese historical sources, the Kojiki 古事記 and the Nihon shoki 日本書紀, the same kind of keyhole-shaped tombs were discovered in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula by a Korean scholar, Kang Ingu in 1983 (Lee, 2014).
Fears of the Discovery of evidence of stronger emperor's Korean ties?
Fears of the Discovery of evidence of stronger emperor's Korean ties?
The Imperial Household Agency building located in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The IHA is charged with designating keyhole-shaped kofun as "imperial tombs" recorded in the historical texts.
any data that the Daisen Kofun might contain remains unknown because access and archaeological excavations are prohibited by the IHA
any data that the Daisen Kofun might contain remains unknown because access and archaeological excavations are prohibited by the IHA
According to Japanese myths, the Chrysanthemum Throne can be traced back more than 2,600 years to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami in the dawn of creation. For the Japanese side, the origin of keyhole-shaped tombs is rather important because it would overturn what the IHA has long claimed that Japan has the oldest imperial line in the world, unbroken across 125 generations (banseiikkei 万世一系) . This might be the reason for IHA to make tombs off-limits.
The only time people crossed the inner moat was in 1872 that a typhoon damaged the lower part of the keyhole shape. Lots of artifacts such as haniwa, small terra cotta statues of men and animals, were discovered.
Debate: The Origin of Keyhole-shaped Tombs
Debate: The Origin of Keyhole-shaped Tombs
Despite the fact that the upper part of the mound has never been opened, some of the artifacts uncovered in 1872 were inconsistent with the time period when the tomb was built. This put the authenticity of the information regarding the tomb promoted by the IHA in doubt and the identity of the tomb’s owner remains controversial.
Despite the fact that the upper part of the mound has never been opened, some of the artifacts uncovered in 1872 were inconsistent with the time period when the tomb was built. This put the authenticity of the information regarding the tomb promoted by the IHA in doubt and the identity of the tomb’s owner remains controversial.
The discovery of keyhole-shaped tombs in the Korean peninsula adds fuel to the fire that it raises doubts about the claims that keyhole-shaped tombs are a uniquely Japanese burial system, and only exist on the Japanese archipelago. It also challenges the nationalists' view that the ‘appearance of keyhole-shaped tombs marks the beginning of “Japan” and the Japanese nation' (Lee, 2014).
However, it is not a one-sided debate. the discovery enables Japanese nationalist to reiterate the claim of the early Japan conquest of the southern part of the Korean peninsula from the 4th – 6th century.
Human-shaped Haniwa displayed at the Sakai City Museum
Time to move forward and learn something related to today's Japan? Click here to see how the image of the Emperor in Japan can be reflected by examining kofun!
Looking for a relief from the heavy debate? There is something fun and interactive here about the large group of kofun in Sakai - the Mozu Kofungun, and a little virtual tour giving you a taste of visiting the Mozu Kofungun!
Scholarly References
- Giulio Magli, Mysteries and Discoveries of Archaeoastronomy: From Giza to Easter Island (Springer New York, 2009).
- Dennis Hyun-Seung Lee, Keyhole-shaped Tombs and Unspoken Frontiers: Exploring the Borderlands of Early Korean-Japanese Relations in the 5th -6th Centuries (ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2014).
Google Sites
Report abuse