Kofun Tombs: Power, Politics, and Burial in Ancient Japan

In this video, we explore the fascinating world of kofun—the massive burial mounds of ancient Japan, constructed between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE. These keyhole-shaped tombs, some over 400 meters long, were built for powerful elites and provide essential insights into early Japanese society and politics. We will explore how these structures were built, and reflect on how they materialize the emergence of centralized power in the Kofun period. We’ll also look at famous kofun sites like Daisenryō Kofun in Osaka, as well as horizontal chamber kofun with painted murals, such as Takehara Kofun and Idera Kofun. Support the channel:   / francitalksjapaneseart   https://ko-fi.com/francitalksjapanese... Find me on Instagram:   / francitalksjapanesearthistory   Sources and further reading: Tsuji Nobuo, History of Art in Japan, Columbia University Press, 2019 Penelope Mason, History of Japanese Art (2nd edition), Pearson College Div , 2004 Conrad Totman, A History of Japan (2nd Edition), Wiley-Blackwell, 2005 Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:42 The development of keyhole shaped and other burial mounds 04:34 The daisenryō Kofun in Osaka 06:39 How kofun were constructed and why 10:18 Horizontal chamber kofun with painted murals #Kofun #JapaneseHistory #AncientJapan #Haniwa #Archaeology #JapaneseArtHistory #YamatoPeriod #BurialMounds #JapanTombs #KofunPeriod