Kōmorizuka Kofun

こうもり塚古墳

Kōmorizuka Kofun

Kōmorizuka Kofun

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Kōmorizuka Kofun (Japan)

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Location| Sōja, Okayama, Japan
Region| San'yō region
Coordinates| 34°40′3.35″N 133°47′11.79″E﻿ / ﻿34.6675972°N 133.7866083°E﻿ / 34.6675972; 133.7866083
Type| Kofun
History
Founded| mid 3rd century
Periods| Kofun period
Site notes
Public access| Yes (no facilities)

National Historic Site of Japan

Kōmorizuka Kofun (こうもり塚古墳) is a Kofun period burial mound, located in the Kanbayashi neighborhood of the city of Sōja, Okayama Prefecture, in the San'yō region of Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1968.[1] It was formerly known as the Kurohimezuka Kofun (黒姫塚古墳).

## Overview[edit]

The Kōmorizuka Kofun is located on a hill in-between the Bitchū Kokubun-ji temple ruins and the Bitchū Kokubun-niji nunnery ruins. It is a zenpō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳), which is shaped like a keyhole when viewed from above. It is estimated that the tumulus was about 100 meters long and had a posterior circular portion with a diameter of about 55 to 60 meters. The tumulus is constructed in two stages. Fukiishi and haniwa have not been confirmed. On the southern side of the posterior portion is a horizontal entry stone burial chamber constructed of megalithic blocks of granite. The burial chamber has a total length of about 19.4 meters, which is the third largest size among the confirmed corridor-style stone chambers in Japan. It contains a hollowed-out house-shaped sarcophagus measuring 2.38m long, 1.4m wide, and 1.31m high. The sarcophagus is made of shell limestone quarried at Mount Namigata in Ibara, Okayama.The 1978 archaeological excavation found fragments of a tortoise shell-shaped Haji ware coffin and iron nails, indicating that the stone sarcophagus contained both a pottery and a wooden coffin, possibly from multiple burials.[2]

Although the tumulus had been robbed in antiquity, some grave goods were discovered, including pommels of iron swords with a phoenix design, iron arrowheads, horse trapping and ornaments, such as small glass beads and gold rings.[2]

The tumulus is named "Komorizuka" from bats living in the open burial chamber. The name "Kurohimezuka" comes from a legend that this is the tomb of Kurohime, a beautiful woman from the Kingdom of Kibi who was favored by Emperor Nintoku. However, as the tumulus was built in the latter half of the 6th century, and the reign of Emperor Nintoku is said to be in the 4th century, the dates do not match the legend.[2]

* Panoramic view

* Anterior rectangular portion

* Posterior circular portion

* Entry

* Passage

* Inside the burial chamber

## See also[edit]

* List of Historic Sites of Japan (Okayama)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "こうもり塚古墳" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
2. ^ a b c 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]

Media related to Koumorizuka Kofun at Wikimedia Commons

* Sōja city home page(in Japanese)
* Okaya Prefectural Ancient Kibi Cultural Properties Center(in Japanese)