Takamatsuzuka Tomb
高松塚古墳 · Takamatsuzuka Kofun · Takamatsuzuka Mounded Tomb · Asuka Bijin Tomb
Late Asuka (Fujiwara) 694–710 CE·Asuka–Nara court (Tang-influenced)·🇯🇵 Nara Prefecture, Takaichi District, Asuka Village, Hirata hillock south of Asuka Station, Japan
About
About Takamatsuzuka Tomb
Famed ‘Asuka Bijin’ tomb — Takamatsuzuka Kofun circular mound 23 m diameter 5 m high, late Asuka (694–710 CE) end-On-Terrace, discovered March 1972 by ginger field farmer irritated at storage pit? Cutting into tuff exposed fresco of 13 court women (Azuka Bijin) in Tang Chang’an cosmopolitan guise, male officials, four directional beasts, and sun–moon constellations. National Treasure paintings detached 2007 after mold; replicas in Mural Museum. Takamatsuzuka is Japan's first true fresco-colour mural tomb, proving Asuka's Tang–Chinese emperor style adoption.
Why it mattersJapan's most famous continental fresco — bijin paintings prove Tang female-cosmopolitan penetration to Asuka's inner court and trigger Modern Japanese heritage fervor.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Occupant — princess, consort or male official? East–west gender ambiguity?
- 02Tang Chang’an model — directly Chang’an or Korean Paekche mediator?
Theories
- 01Takamatsuzuka as Fujiwara-kyō elite mausoleum anticipating Kitora celestial vault
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.694–710 CE Fujiwara-kyō period late Asuka
- Period
- Late Asuka (Fujiwara) 694–710 CE
- Culture
- Asuka–Nara court (Tang-influenced)
- Builders
- Asuka–Fujiwara court workshop (Empress Jito line)
- Purpose
- Hilltop bijin tomb for senior court lady or imperial kin with Tang Chang’an female costume
- Rediscovered
- 21 March 1972 — ginger farmer cutting storage pit encounters frescoe; Kansai TV breakthrough
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.694–710 CE
Circular mound with 4 m chamber — bijin, officials, four beasts and celestial solar/lunar painting
21 Mar 1972
Discovery by farmer — Japan Asuka-fever; Asahi Shimbun nationwide museum queue
1972–2007
National Treasure fresco conserved in situ then detached (mold crisis 2004)
2016
Takamatsuzuka Mural Hall renovated; detached original conserved at Nara Institute
On the ground
Structures & features
34.4623° N · 135.8062° E · 95 m · 2 mapped features
Takamatsuzuka Burial Chamber Fresco Interior
chamber2.7 m tuff chamber with Tang bijin, officials, four beasts and sun–moon stellar fresco (National Treasure original detached)
34.4624° N · 135.8063° ETakamatsuzuka 23 m Circular Mound Exterior
mound5 m high 23 m circular turf mound encasing the chamber on Hirata hillock
34.4620° N · 135.8060° E
Gallery