Kitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault
キトラ古墳 · Kitora Kofun
Late Kofun / Asuka (late 7th–early 8th c. CE)·Asuka-Yamato (Korean Baekje influence)·🇯🇵 Kansai, Nara Prefecture, Asuka village, Kitora hillside, Japan
About
About Kitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault
Asuka Kitora excavated 1983–98, star chart with 1,000 stars, four-direction beast murals, Baekje migrant tomb.
Why it mattersKey Asuka-Yamato (Korean Baekje influence) tumulus with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Trade network extent
Theories
- 01Defensive stronghold
- 02Seasonal gathering
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
- Period
- Late Kofun / Asuka (late 7th–early 8th c. CE)
- Culture
- Asuka-Yamato (Korean Baekje influence)
- Purpose
- Painted tomb with world's oldest extant astronomical chart (28 lunar lodges) and 4 beast murals — astronomy tomb
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1977
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 700 CE
Initial construction / first occupation at Kitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault
c. 200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Kitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault
On the ground
Structures & features
34.4590° N · 135.8070° E · 142 m · 3 mapped features
Kitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault — Principal Chamber
chamberchamber at Kitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault — hydraulic feature
34.4573° N · 135.8076° EKitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault — Northern Dromos
dromosdromos at Kitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault — hydraulic feature
34.4604° N · 135.8086° EKitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault — Southern Mound
moundmound at Kitora Tumulus — Asuka Painted Star Chart Vault — hydraulic feature
34.4595° N · 135.8068° E