Imperial tombs built during the Kofun period are sites which have left important clues to understanding the origins of the nation.
The Imperial Household Agency jointly with the city government of Sakai in Osaka Prefecture has begun an excavation of the Daisen Kofun [the tomb of Emperor Nintoku] -- the nation's largest, key-hole-shaped kofun burial mound, which is believed to have been built in the 5th century. It is the first time excavation of an imperial tomb is being conducted with a group outside of the agency.
The research is aimed at checking the condition of the embankment of the moat that surrounds the burial mound, but there is also a possibility of such artifacts as haniwa clay figures being unearthed.
The agency had until recently severely restricted entry to the site of the tomb, claiming that it is important for tranquility and dignity to be maintained at places where emperors and other nobility are laid to rest. Even entry by researchers had been limited to observing the shape of the tumulus from the base of the mound.
From this joint excavation, it can be interpreted that the agency's stance is to allow an expansion of research at imperial tombs when deemed to be justifiable. This can be considered an important step forward.
With regards to the Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun ancient tumulus clusters -- made up of 49 ancient tombs, including the Daisen Kofun -- the government this year submitted documents of recommendation to UNESCO for them to be included on the World Heritage list. If things proceed smoothly, they will be listed next summer.
World heritage is valuable for the whole of humankind. It is absolutely necessary that the constituent assets are authentic.
Ensure authenticity of sites
The Daisen Kofun, which stretches over urban areas of Sakai, is believed to be one of the world's three largest-scale royal tombs, together with the Pyramid of Khufu in Egypt and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in China. There are opinions, however, calling for the designation of "the tomb of Emperor Nintoku" not to be referred to, on the grounds that the identity of the person entombed has yet to be confirmed.
As long as the government aims to have the tumulus clusters registered on the World Heritage list, shouldn't research continue to unravel the identity of the entombed individual as much as possible?
From the Edo period to the Meiji era, ancient burial mounds were designated on the basis of descriptions in such documents as the Kojiki (the Records of Ancient Matters), the Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan) and the Engi-shiki (the Procedures of the Engi Era). The agency presently manages 899 such tombs.
The problem is that academic research conducted after the war has identified cases in which designated tombs are not consistent with descriptions outlined in these documents.
The tomb of Emperor Keitai is designated as the Ooda-chausuyama Kofun in Osaka Prefecture, but it is highly likely that his actual tomb is the Imashirozuka Kofun in the same prefecture. It has also been claimed that Kengoshizuka Kofun in Nara Prefecture is the actual tomb of Emperor Saimei, rather than the Kurumaki-kennou Kofun in the same prefecture.
In the Meiji era, the designation of the tomb of Emperor Tenmu and Emperor Jito was changed due to the discovery of new evidence. If designations are found to be erroneous, the possibility of changing them should be considered. A flexible attitude on the part of the agency is needed.
Imperial tombs are places where prayers for the Imperial Family are conducted and thus it is a matter of course to protect the tranquility of such sites. While taking into account the current state of affairs whereby religious rites are conducted periodically, it is hoped that academic research is advanced as much as possible to resolve some of the mysteries surrounding the nation's ancient history.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 11, 2018)
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