Silk Road Ruin? No, It’s A One Of A Kind Ancient Tomb In Japan – Kitaohara No.2 Kofun – 北小原２号横穴墓

Looking like something that would be found along the Silk Road instead of Japan we have this very curious and unique looking tomb in Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture (島根県松江市). I actually took a long drive here with an overnight stay from a trip to Okayama just for the sake of seeing this, and I wasn’t disappointed (aside from the rain which made filming a challenge).

Information about this tomb online is very scarce, aside from a handful of Japanese blog write-ups, but it’s thought to be the inner chamber remains of larger tomb body that once enclosed it, from the 6th-7th Century.

The composition of the the “sandy” looking material that it’s made from seems unclear. To me it looks like compacted clay/sand, the likes of which are found in structures in China, The Middle East etc., and it had that feeling when I touched it too. One Japanese website also sees that to be the case. However, another website suggested that it’s actually a unique type of orange stone. So … who knows?

Inside is VERY interesting also – as I’m not the size of a 4 year old kid I couldn’t get inside but sticking my camera and light in through the opening revealed two sarcophagii. Perhaps even more special than that is the entrance “doorway” stone inside the hole sitting partially exposed to the outside also, with an engraving on it that is supposed to represent an ancient locking bolt found on doors/gates, known in Japanese as “閂” or kannuki.

All in all, one of my favourite tombs so far.

More info (Japanese) : https://ameblo.jp/kamochi3/entry-12749680698.html

Location : https://maps.app.goo.gl/naKotifXv7CaBtKs5

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Q: What am I watching here ?

A: You are watching footage of a “kofun/古墳” – kofun are tombs in Japan that were created during the Kofun Period (roughly between the 3rd and 7th Century AD) – this era was preceded by the Jomon and Yayoi periods, and followed by Asuka, Nara and so on. These tombs were built as burial chambers for people from Japanese imperial families and other people of higher status in society during those days. The most well-known and generally largest tombs are found around Kyoto and Osaka, but they are found all over Kansai, Kanto, Tohoku etc., and even in other parts of Japan such as Shikoku and Kyushu. Figures vary greatly, but some sources state there are over 160000 of these kofun in Japan. At times you will see haniwa on and around kofun – haniwa are terracotta figures which were made in various shapes, including being formed as people and animals.
Have a read of the the Wikipedia article for more information : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofun

Ideally I’d like to build a kofun appreciation community of sorts, but that is just a dream right now. You can hit me up on:

https://www.facebook.com/japankofun/
https://www.instagram.com/japankofun/