Kitora Tumulus Nara
Kitora Kofun · Shijin Kitora Tumulus
Kofun Late 7th–early 8th c CE (Asuka)·Asuka late Kofun court — shijin astronomical Daoist·🇯🇵 Japan, Kansai, Nara Prefecture, Takatori–Asuka village, Asuka valley Abuyama hill, 1.5 km south of Takamatsuzuka, Kinai basin, Japan
About
About Kitora Tumulus Nara
Kitora Tumulus Nara — 7th–8th c CE late Kofun painted tomb (zenpo-koen remnant 13.8×9.8 m) on Abuyama hill at Asuka, Nara basin, National Treasure since 1983. Excavated 1983–2001 by Nara National Research Institute: stone chamber with shikkui lacquer, four-direction astronomical mural (Genbu north tortoise, Seiryu east dragon, Suzaku south phoenix, Byakko west tiger), 12 zodiac animals, and gilt bronze coffin fittings. Only complete shijin astronomical ceiling in Japan, dated c.700 CE ±30 via pigments. Links Asuka court to Tang–Koguryo astronomy and Daoist shijin belief.
Why it mattersJapan's only complete four-direction shijin astronomical mural — Asuka Tang–Goguryeo Daoist astronomy
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Tomb occupant — court astronomer or Prince?
Theories
- 01Tang Daoist shijin via Koguryo model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.700 CE ±30 late Asuka Kofun (late 7th–early 8th c)
- Period
- Kofun Late 7th–early 8th c CE (Asuka)
- Culture
- Asuka late Kofun court — shijin astronomical Daoist
- Builders
- Asuka court astronomers (Tang–Koguryo influence)
- Purpose
- Elite astronomical tomb demonstrating Tang–Goguryeo shijin four-god cosmology at Yamato court
- Rediscovered
- 1983 hiker finds hill mound; 1983–2001 Nara National systematic excavation
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.700 CE
Shijin astronomical chamber painted with Tang pigments
1983
Hiker mound noticed; lacquer fragments expose Genbu
2001
Nara National chamber fully conserved and imaged
On the ground
Structures & features
34.4583° N · 135.8069° E · 165 m · 2 mapped features
Northern Genbu Mural Wall
muralNorth wall Genbu tortoise-snake astronomical shijin with stars on lacquer plaster
34.4585° N · 135.8069° ECentral Zodiac Vault
chamber12-animal zodiac vault ceiling with shikkui lacquer at chamber center
34.4583° N · 135.8069° E