Kofun period
The Kofun period, which spanned from approximately 300 CE to the seventh century, is marked by the construction of large burial mounds known as kofun. This era is significant in Japanese history as it coincides with the formation of the Yamato government and the establishment of cultural and political links with China and Korea. The period is divided into early, middle, and late phases, distinguished by the evolving shapes and sizes of the burial mounds, which became more elaborate over time.
In the early Kofun period, mortuary practices included the interment of funerary goods, such as bronze mirrors and weapons, primarily in the Kinai region, believed to be the burial sites of imperial family members. The middle phase saw the introduction of advanced irrigation and rice cultivation techniques from Korea, leading to increased agricultural productivity. As the period progressed, the size of tombs diminished, and the emergence of horizontal-style burial chambers replaced the iconic keyhole-shaped mounds.
The arrival of Buddhism in 552 CE and subsequent cultural shifts led to the decline of mound construction, favoring instead the building of Buddhist temples. The Kofun period is characterized not only by its monumental architecture but also by the development of a centralized society that laid the groundwork for future Japanese states.
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Kofun period
Related civilization: Japan.
Date: 300-seventh century c.e.
Locale: Japan
Kofun Period
The Kofun (KOH-foon) period gets its name from the large burial mounds (kofun, or tumuli) that were built during this time. The Kofun period began with the first keyhole-shaped burial mounds in 300 c.e. and ended in the seventh century. During this period, which is known largely through Japanese writings from the Nara period and contemporary Korean and Chinese records, the Yamato government formed and forged links with China and Korea. The Japanese imported a number of ideas and concepts, including Buddhism and pottery technology from Korea and bureaucratic and writing systems from China.
The Kofun period can be divided into three parts—early, middle, and late—by the shape and construction of the tombs. In the early Kofun period (c. 300-c. 400 c.e.), the mounds were square, round, or keyhole shaped and were most commonly in the Kinai (Kansai) region, where the first centralized government started in Yamato. Most of the tombs in the Kinai area are believed to be tombs for members of the imperial family. At first, tombs were built around existing hilltops but were gradually moved to flat surfaces around the middle Kofun period. The funerary goods included bronze mirrors, weapons, jewelry, and farming tools made of iron.
Cultivation of rice in paddies, which began in the Yayoi period (c. 300 b.c.e.-c. 300 c.e.), flourished during the Kofun period, partly because of water-management techniques imported from Korea. The construction of reservoirs and irrigation canals required civic planning, coordination, and the mobilization of large numbers of people. This level of societal organization and concentration of power is reflected in the large number of burial mounds (more than ten thousand) built during this period.
The size of tombs, especially the ones in the Kinai area of Japan, became greater during the middle Kofun period (c. 400-c. 500 c.e.). The largest existing mound tomb from this period, that believed to be of Emperor Nintoku, is some 486 meters (531 yards) long, 305 meters (333 yards) wide, and 35 meters (38 yards) high. The second largest tomb is that of Emperor Ōjin, Nintoku’s predecessor. The introduction of equestrian culture and metallurgy from China and Sue ware pottery techniques from Korea is reflected in the mound’s funerary goods, which include harness and Sue ware. In addition to pit-shaft stone burial chambers, horizontal-style stone burial chambers were introduced in some parts of Japan. Haniwa clay figures—often simple cylinders but also animals, people, buildings, and weapons—began to appear in mounds. Their origin and purpose are unknown.
During the late Kofun period (c. 500-seventh century c.e.), the horizontal-style tombs replaced the keyhole-shaped mounds around the Kinai region, and the size of tombs became smaller throughout Japan. Funerary goods included more personal items. After the arrival of Buddhism in 552 c.e. (which favored cremation) and the adoption of many cultural and political practices from Korea and China, the practice of building tombs decreased, ceasing by the seventh century. Instead of tombs, the imperial family turned to constructing Buddhist temples. The Soga family, of which Shōtoku Taishi was a member, worked to centralize power, creating reforms that were carried out largely from 645 to 710 c.e., after its fall from power and before the capital was located in Nara.
The dwellings of the Kofun period were typically square pits, with sides of about 3 to 10 meters (3 to 11 yards), large supporting posts, and thatched roofs, built in clusters. Central hearths were replaced by clay ovens (Korean technology) in the fifth century. Inside these dwellings, archaeologists have found indigenous Haji ware pots, iron knives and sickles, and stones believed to have been used as weaving weights.
Bibliography
Barnes, Gina Lee. Protohistoric Yamato: Archaeology of the First Japanese State. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1988.
Brown, Delmer, ed. Ancient Japan. Vol. 1 in The Cambridge History of Japan. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1988.
Imamura, Keiji. Prehistoric Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1996.
Miki, Fumio. Haniwa. Translated and adapted by Gina Lee Barnes. New York: Weatherhill, 1974.
Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to a.d. 697. Translated by W.G. Aston. 1896. Reprint. Bristol, England: Oxford University Press, 1997.