TAKAMATSUZUKA KOFUN (Special Historical Site)

			This is the tumulus grave, located in the Hirata district of Asuka-mura, which became famous as the result of the excavation studies of 1g72 which revealed its artistically executed wall frescoes. The tumulus, which is only 20 meters in diameter, is one of a small number of terminal period kofun which exhibit a distinctive construction process, found only in Asuka, whereby the mound was built up in alternating layers of clay and sand. It is thought to have been built at some time between the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th century. The ceiling depicts star constellations (seishuku), and the surrounding walls depict the sun, the moon, the four heavenly guardian gods (shishin),and earthly attendants. in such a way that a sort of miniature universe was formed for the purpose of accompanying the de-creased in his eternal sleep. The person for whom the grave was built is unknown, but the decorations, grounded in Chinese concepts, are executed in a way that would befit the grave of a nobleman.

Exterior of the south end of the Takamatsuzuka stone crypt, seen from cavity produced during 1972 excavation. The construction of the tumulus through successively applied thin layers of clay and sand is well indicated. The indentations seen running lengthwise in the foreground are the tracks left by rails which supported rollers used to transport the massive cut stones to the grave site. In the structure of the Takamatsuzuka stone crypt may be seen an abandonment of the earlier pattern of a stone chamber with a laterally attached entrance corridor (yokoana-shiki sekishitsu) and substitution of a pattern in which only a sealed coffin-shaped stone burial vault, or so-called sekkan-shiki sekishitsu remained, with no passageway to the outside. The problematic wall frescoes are drawn on the inside surfaces of this crypt. (The photograph was taken after the south end of the crypt, found partially destroyed by grave robbers, had been repaired.)