Mozu Tombs

The Mozu Kofun Cluster is located in the city of Sakai which is within Osaka Prefecture. The tumuli are built on a plateau overlooking Osaka Bay near the ancient coastline and are distributed in a range of about four kilometers from east-to-west and north-to-south.The Furuichi Kofun Cluster is located in nearby Habikino and Fujiidera cities.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mozu-furuichi.jp/en/learn/mozu_furuichi_aspect.html|title= Characteristics of Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun|access-date=22 November 2015|publisher=World Cultural Heritage for Osaka}}

In the Japanese archipelago, more than 20,000 tumuli (kofun), which are mounds of earth and stones erected over graves of the ruling class, were built between the later part of the 3rd century and the 6th century.{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5570/|title=Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun, Ancient Tumulus Clusters |access-date=22 November 2015|publisher=UNESCO }} It was the peak period of building such mounds. They represent a cultural tradition which is an expression of "forms, and design of the kofun" of the sociopolitical hierarchical order and the link that was prevalent during that period between regions. This period is termed as the Kofun Period. The most prominent imperial mausolea in this cluster of tumuli are those of Emperor Nintoku and Emperor Richū.{{Sfn|Fawcett|1990|p=111}}

There are 44 burial mounds in the Mozu cluster, including those that are partially destroyed. Of these, 19 have been designated as national historic sites,{{cite web |url=https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/401/1797 |title=百舌鳥古墳群|trans-title=Mozu kofungun|language=Japanese |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |accessdate=August 20, 2020}}{{cite book |last1=Isomura |first1=Yukio |last2=Sakai |first2=Hideya |title=(国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia |date=2012 |publisher=学生社 |isbn=978-4311750403}}{{in lang|ja}} and separately, the Imperial Household Agency has ruled three to be Imperial mausoleums, two to be "Tomb Reference Sites", and 18 to be "baichō", or ancillary mausoleums connected with an Imperial mausoleum.Of the burial mounds, the Itasuke burial mound was designated as a national historic site in 1956, and 19 units have been designated by 2019, including those that were additionally designated after that (Notice of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on October 15, 2018). No. 193, February 26, 2019, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Notification No. 25). There used to be more than 100 burial mounds, but due to the rapid development of residential land after World War II, more than half of the burial mounds were destroyed.[http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/rekishi/dkofun/database/index.html 古墳データベース] – [http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/index.html 堺市ウェブサイト]{{smaller|（2017年6月11日閲覧）}}

In 2010, the Japanese government proposed that the Daisen Kofun and the entire cluster of Mozu Tombs and Furuichi Tombs be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5570/|title=Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun, Ancient Tumulus Clusters – UNESCO World Heritage Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|work=unesco.org|access-date=23 February 2017}} 9 years later on 6 July 2019, the site was approved and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under Criteria: (iii) and (iv) as the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan.{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/news/seven-cultural-sites-inscribed-unescos-world-heritage-list|title=Seven cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List|website=UNESCO|date=6 July 2019}}

The kofun are found in many shapes and dimensions in varying patterns. Some are of simple circular or square shape (empun and hōfun). The larger ones are keyhole-shaped (zempō kōenfun); they represent the highest class of kofun and were built in great detail. The three prominent aspects of these kofun are their massive size and being surrounded by several moats and many secondary kofun.

In the Osaka Plain and Nara Basin, which were the cultural centre of the Kofun Period, the rounded keyhole-shaped tombs were built extending to very large lengths, out of which the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Clusters are the most prominent. These are in two kofun groups which are dated to the later part of 4th and early part of 6th centuries. These kofun are of the largest dimensions in the country. The Nintoku-tennō-ryō Kofun, is one grave mound which is a {{Convert|486|m}} long tumulus enclosed by a moat and a fortification which is {{Convert|840|m}} in length; this is said to be the largest such mound in the world. This cluster also has the Richū-tennō-ryō Kofun, made of a tumulus of {{Convert|360|m}} length and said to be the third largest in the country.

Another group of mounds, located about {{Convert|10|km}} away from the Mozu cluster is known as the Furuichi cluster. It has the Ōjin-tennō-ryō Kofun of {{Convert|425|m}} length which is said to be the second largest in the country. This group also has 11 more huge massive rounded "keyhole-shaped kofun" with mound length of {{Convert|200|m}} or more.

A feature of these funerary mounds is that they contain – along with the buried people – grave goods made of iron, weapons worn by individuals including arrowheads, swords, hoe and spade tips, and many other similar items. Also found in the mounds are antiquities made of gilded bronze such as horse tacks and sash buckles.

The Daisen Kofun mound is approximately {{convert|500|m}} long and {{convert|300|m}} across at its widest point, while the entire tomb area is {{convert|840|m}} long.{{cite web|url=http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/rekishi/dkofun/database/nintokutenno.html|title=仁徳天皇陵古墳（大山古墳） 堺市|first=Sakai|last=city|work=sakai.lg.jp|access-date=23 February 2017}} Enclosed by three moats, the mound rises approximately 35m above the surrounding terrain. The highest point is {{convert|47|m}}, making it visible to the seafarers in nearby Osaka Bay.{{Cite web |title=Mozu Daisenryo Kofun – Japan Airlines |url=https://jal.japantravel.com/osaka/mozu-daisenryo-kofun/9100 |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=jal.japantravel.com}} The inner moat is the widest of the moats at approximately {{convert|60|m}}. The mound is approximately {{convert|100000|sqm}} in area, and the entire tomb is {{convert|460000|sqm}}.

Today, the tomb is off-limits and protected by the Imperial Household Agency in the centre of Sakai City. The moats have been maintained and provide a sanctuary for fish and waterbirds. The mound itself is completely overgrown by vegetation. A viewing platform from the second (middle) moat is accessible at the south side of the site. The viewing platform is 500m away from Mozu Station on the Hanwa Line and is directly across the street from the Sakai City Museum.{{cite web|url=http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/hakubutsukan/index.html|title=堺市博物館 堺市|first=Sakai|last=city|work=sakai.lg.jp|access-date=23 February 2017}} This museum provides visitors with information about the kofun and its history.

File:NintokuTomb Aerial photograph 2007.jpg|alt=|Daisenryo Kofun, 2.8 km in circumference and the largest kofun in Japan, is thought to be the Tomb of Emperor Nintoku.

File:Kamiishizu Misanzai Kofun Aerial photograph 2007.jpg|alt=|Kamiishizu Misanzai Kofun

File:Haze Nisanzai Kofun zenkei.JPG|Haze Nisanzai Kofun

File:Mozu Gobyo-yama Kofun zenkei.JPG|Mozu Gobyo-yama Kofun

File:Tadeiyama Kofun Aerial photograph 2007.jpg|alt=|Tadeiyama Kofun

File:Itasuke Kofun zenkei.JPG|Itasuke Kofun

• Buried Cultural Properties
• List of Historic Sites of Japan (Osaka)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)
• World Heritage Sites in Japan
• Japanese imperial tombs

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last= Fawcett |first=Clare P. |title=A study of the socio-political context of Japanese archaeology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uaoWAQAAIAAJ|year=1990|publisher=McGill University, Montréal}}

{{Commons category|Mozu Kofun Group}}

• {{in lang|en}} [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5570/ Entry on UNESCO World Heritage tentative list]
• {{in lang|ja}} [http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/rekishi/dkofun/database/index.html Mozu Kofun database]
• {{in lang|ja}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20130816022032/http://kyuhaku.jmc.or.jp/ Decorated Kofun Database]

{{Kofun infobox}}

{{World Heritage Sites in Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Osaka Prefecture

Category:Tourist attractions in Osaka Prefecture

Category:History of Osaka Prefecture

Category:World Heritage Sites in Japan

Category:Historic Sites of Japan

Category:Sakai, Osaka

Category:Japanese imperial tombs

Category:Kofun clusters