Samuraizuka Kofun
The Samuraizuka Kofun (侍塚古墳) is a pair of "two conjoined rectangles" shaped (前方後方墳, zenpō-kōhō-fun) kofun burial mounds located in the city of Ōtawara in Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kantō region of Japan. Both received protection as a National Historic Site in 1951.[1]The neighborhood has many smaller kofun, including one keyhole-shaped tumulus, seven dome-shaped tumuli and one square-shaped tumulus, which are covered under an Ōtawara City Historic Site designation.
侍塚古墳 | |
 Shimo-Samuraizuka Kofun | |
 .svg.png.webp){kind=icon} Shimo-Samuraizuka Kofun  Samuraizuka Kofun (Japan) | |
| Location | Ōtawara, Tochigi, Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Kantō region |
| Coordinates | 36°48′47.51″N 140°7′22.17″E |
| Type | kofun |
| History | |
| Founded | late 4th century AD |
| Periods | Kofun period |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes |
Overview
The Samuraizuka Kofun are located in the Yuzukami neighborhood of Ōtawara City, in the northern end of the Kanto Plain on the right bank of the Naka River. The Shimo-Samuraizuka Kofun (下侍塚古墳) is to the north, and the Kami-Samuraizuka Kofun (上侍塚古墳) is located some 700 meters to the south. The kofun were excavated in 1692 by order of Tokugawa Mitsukuni, who kept a detailed illustrated records of the artifacts discovered. The artifacts were later placed in boxes made from Japanese red pine restored to the burial chambers, and the site was backfilled. Tokugawa Mitsukuni attributed the tombs to that of the Nasu Kuni no miyatsuko named "Ataiide" mentioned on a stele dated 689 AD discovered in a shrine in Ōtawara City, which lists the names of prehistoric rulers from the 5th century.
The Kami-Samurazuka is the larger tumulus, with a total length of 114 meters, a rear width of 60 meters, a height of 12 meters, a front width of 52 meters, and a height of 7 meters. Artifacts included bronze mirrors, fragments of armor, cylindrical beads and iron balls. The Shimo-Samuraizuka has a total length of 84 meters, a rear width of 48 meters, a height of 9.4 meters, a front width of 36 meters, a height of 5 meters, and a moat. Artifacts included bronze mirrors, swords and Haji ware] pottery. In 1975, the Shimo-Samuraizuka was trench excavated in connection with a land improvement project and more Haji-ware shards were discovered.
The kofun are considered to have been built around the beginning of the 5th century AD, with the Shimo-Samuraizuka being the older of the two. They are located a short walk from the "Sajizuka Parking Lot" bus stop on the municipal bus from Nasushiobara Station on the Tōhoku Shinkansen.
References
- "侍塚古墳" [Fujimoto Kannonyama Kofun] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
External links
- Ōtawara city home page (in Japanese)