Mitsujo Tumulus (V)

Different point of views of this ancient burial mound.

Horse-shaped haniwa. The second time I came to this site, they were already replaced with new horse-shaped haniwas like we see on the right image. 

Image on the left is the sunshade-shaped haniwa. It was modeled after a sunshade of the Kofun period. The underpart of this represents the shade and top of it is a model of an osprey. Image on the right shows a house-shaped haniwa. The ruler lived in the house similar to this one during his lifetime. 

The Japanese word Haniwa means "cicle of clays" and it refers to the unglazed red clay cylinders which were placed around imperial burial mound to stabilized the ground and support the roof of the tomb. First produced by the guild craftsmen of the Kofun period, Japan's Iron Age (3rd-6th centuries), haniwa evolved from simple cylinders into representations of people, animals and houses.

*Thanks Gary, for the link.

The last tumulus is Mitsujo No.3. This facility has a rectangular stone coffin about 1,5 meters tall and 0,2 to 0,5 meters wide. Nothing was discovered inside this coffin. It is now covered with tiles replicating the remains underneath.

The original tumuli were restored after they had laid for in the earth about 0,7 meters on deep.

These photos end my Mitsujo theme today. I hope you enjoyed them.

I am coming with a new theme tomorrow.

Hiro San: Kairimashoo (Let's go home)

Yuri San: Haik (Okey)

Mitsujo Tumulus (IV)

This facility has a rectangular stone coffin, however much is still unknown about this coffin because some of the relics were lost. For this reason, the coffin is covered with red brick sand.

This girl is sitting on the tumulus No.2. Mitsujo Tumulus No.2 is a circular mound of about 25 meters wide and about 3,5 to 5 meters high. This tumulus also has paved stone around the slope of the mound but has no haniwa encircling it.

* Tomorrow, I'll show some details of this tumulus which are called Haniwa (Vogon Poet asked about them in my first post of this theme).

Mitsujo Tumulus (III)

The original stone coffins can be seen through the hard glass.

Here they are, the three facilities which have rectagular stone coffins. 

On the third level of Mitsujo Tulus No.1 is the round rear part of the keyhole-shaped mound. This part of the mound is where the person's remains were buried.

*I'm sorry for not posting two days. I was in Hiroshima city watching Hiroshima Flower Festival   which was held from the 3rd to the 5th of May this year.

Hiro San: Kino, doko ni ikimashita ka? (Where did you go yesterday?)

Yuri San: Hiroshima ni ikimashita (I went to Hiroshima)

Mitsujo Tumulus (II)

The square projection on the right side of the keyhole-shaped mound.

As we can see, the square projection on the left side of the keyhole-shaped mound.
On the third/top level of tumulus No.1. This is called Zenpobu. This long front area of the mound was originally the place where the burial rites were performed. But it lost its original function when this tumulus was built and is only for display.

Yuri San: Takai ne (it's so high)

Hiro San: So desu (it is)

Mitsujo Tumulus (I)

The burial mound of this tumulus has three levels with Haniwa, a type of earthenware, around the circumference of each level.
Next to the cemetery I posted yesterday is Mitsujo Tumulus. In ancient times, a grave was constructed by piling earth up into a high mound called a "Kofun" (ancient mound) or Takazuka (high tumulus). In Higashi Hiroshima, this mound is called Mitsujo Kofun. This historic site has three tumuli. I am starting this post in order from tumulus No.1, No.2 and No.3. 

In this picture is Mitsujo No.1 Tumulus, a keyhole-shaped mound about 92 meters wide. It is the largest tumulus in Hiroshima Prefecture.

The tumulus was designated as historic site on June 3, 1982, because it is very sacred to this area's cultural heritage.

This is going to be my theme this week.

Yuri San: Kore wa nan desuka? (What is this?)

Hiro San: Bochi desu, ookii bochi desu (It's a big cemetery)

*All the explanation of this photos is taken from this historic site.