Decorated kofun

is the term used for kofun or ancient Japanese tombs ornamented with painted or carved decoration. The tombs take the form of tumuli or earthen mounds piled over stone chambers as well as caves excavated from the living rock. The decoration may be on the inner walls, on stone screens, on sarcophagi or, in the case of cave tombs, around the entrance on the exterior. Of the 161,560 ancient burials identified to date, around two hundred and fifty are so decorated."Japanese terms: ; ; ; ; ;

Motifs Decorative motifs include the chokkomon (an X-shape forming triangular zones that intersect irregular curves), circles, concentric circles, triangles, human figures, horses, birds, boats, swords, shields, and quivers.Japanese terms: ; ; ; ; ;

List of decorated kofun This list is of the decorated kofun of ancient Japan, located in Fukuoka prefecture. ImageKofunMunicipalityDateTomb styleDecorationDesignationCoordinatesDatabaseUrayama kofunKurume450-500keyholeincised (and red) concentric circles, chokkomon, kagitemon, triangles in a continuous patternHistoric Site Nichirinji KofunNichirinji kofunKurume475-525keyholerelief and incised (and red) concentric circles, chokkomon, kagitemonHistoric Site Yamanoshita kofunKurumeroundred; indistinctShimobaba kofunKurume575-600roundred and blue concentric circles, triangles, and shieldsHistoric Site Tōkō-ji Kenzuka kofunFukuoka525-575keyholeincised boats Sakurakyō nigō kofunMunakata550-600keyholered and green triangles, in a continuous patternHistoric Site Haburakan yokoana bogunNakama575-650incised boats Seto jūyongō yokoanaNakama; replica at the red boats, human figures, horses, and birdsDoinouchi yokoanaNakamaincised boatsFurutsuki yokoana bogunKurate550-650whitened and incised indistinct grid patternHistoric Site Takehara KofunTakehara kofunMiyawaka550-600roundblack and red human figure, horse, dragon, fans, boat, wavesHistoric Site Ōzuka KofunŌzuka kofunKeisen525-575keyholered, green, yellow and black circles, concentric circles, triangles, birds, circular patterns with twin feet, vegetal motifs, quivers, bows, swords, shields, riders Special Historic Site Togami Kannonzuka kofunChikuzen575-600roundred circles, boats, ridersKitsunezuka kofunAsakura600-625roundincised circles, concentric circles, boats, horsesMiyajidake kofunAsakuraroundred and blue circlesGorōyama KofunGorōyama kofunChikushino550-600roundred, black, and green quivers, bows, boats, houses, horses, birds, human figures, ridersHistoric Site Haginoo KofunHaginoo kofun Ōmutac.600roundred and black; concentric circles, triangles, quivers, bows, boatsHistoric Site

See also Kofun period Takamatsuzuka kofun Kumamoto Prefectural Ancient Burial Mound Museum

Notes

References

External links Decorated Tomb Database