Mozu Kofun Cluster (Mozu-Furuichi)
Mozu Tombs · Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group · Sakai Mozu Kofun Group
Middle–Late Kofun 350–600 CE (Yamato mature)·Yamato Mozu–Furuichi Kofun tradition·🇯🇵 Kansai, Osaka Prefecture, Sakai, Fujiidera and Habikino cities, Mozu–Furuichi plains 10 km south Osaka, Japan
About
About Mozu Kofun Cluster (Mozu-Furuichi)
Mozu Kofun Cluster — dense kofun cemetery (49 kofun inscribed, 160,000+ total in Japan, 4th–6th c CE) across Mozu and Furuichi plains 10 km south Osaka, excavated 1970s–2019 Shiraishi et al. Mozu–Furuichi is UNESCO 2019 with 49 components: keyhole, scallop, square, round. Includes Daisenryo (Nintoku, 486 m), Konda Gobyoyama (Furuichi, Chūai? 425 m), Hakucho, and Ojin-linked. Distinct from Hashihaka single tomb — Mozu is Yamato royal cemetery with 44 kofun over 300–600 CE. Mounded earth with moats, fukiishi roofing stones, haniwa (cylindrical, house, shield).
Why it mattersDensest kofun cemetery worldwide — UNESCO 2019 illustrating Yamato kingship evolution 300–600 CE
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Furuichi vs Mozu lineage — rival dynasties?
Theories
- 01Mozu-Furuichi as Yamato succession cemetery per Shiraishi
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.4th–6th c CE Mozu–Furuichi phase (middle–late Kofun)
- Period
- Middle–Late Kofun 350–600 CE (Yamato mature)
- Culture
- Yamato Mozu–Furuichi Kofun tradition
- Builders
- Yamato court (Nintoku to Keitai dynasties)
- Purpose
- Yamato royal cemetery — successive kings' keyhole mounded necropolis on Mozu–Furuichi plain
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
4th c CE
Furuichi early keyholes (Ojin)
5th c
Mozu apex Daisenryo Nintoku
1956–2019
Preservation movement → UNESCO 1593
On the ground
Structures & features
34.5500° N · 135.4900° E · 15 m · 2 mapped features
Furuichi Konda Gobyoyama Kofun (Emperor Ojin Tomb Hypothesis)
kofun425-m keyhole 2nd largest after Daisenryo, attributed to Ojin in Furuichi
34.5510° N · 135.4892° EMozu Nintoku South Moat and Haniwa Field
earthworkMozu moat with cylindrical haniwa rows south of Daisenryo
34.5485° N · 135.4911° E