Nintoku Tennōryō (Daisen Kofun) is Japan’s largest keyhole-shaped kofun — 486 metres long, 307 metres wide and encircled by a moat complex with a roughly 2.8 km outer circuit. The moat-inclusive footprint is about 7 by 5 100-metre blocks, not 10 by 10. Its scale is hard to appreciate from ground level; from the air, the keyhole plan is unmistakable. The video argues that mound-and-moat traditions arose independently in Japan, the Americas and Cambodia, and compares the keyhole form with forms in Egypt, Greece and India. A monumental feat of ancient engineering! ⛩️
Japan’s largest keyhole-shaped kofun: Nintoku Tennōryō, 486 metres long
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Key facts
- Nintoku Tennōryō (Daisen Kofun) is Japan’s largest keyhole-shaped kofun, about 486 metres long and 307 metres wide.
- The surrounding moat complex has an outer circuit of roughly 2.8 km. The 10-by-10-city-block claim is not supported; using roughly 100-metre blocks, the footprint including the moats is about 7 by 5 blocks.
- The mound’s scale is difficult to appreciate from ground level; aerial views show the full keyhole plan.
- The video argues that mound-and-moat traditions arose independently in Japan, the Americas and Cambodia, and compares the keyhole form with forms in Egypt, Greece and India.
Sources
Mozu Kofun Groupen.wikipedia.org
Daisenryo Kofun, 2.8 km in circumference and the largest kofun in Japan, is thought to be the Tomb of Emperor Nintoku.
Kofunen.wikipedia.org
Daisen Kofun, the largest of all kofun, one of many tumuli in the Mozu kofungun, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture (5th century). The term is the origin of the name of ...
Unearthing the secrets of Japan's mysterious ancient tombsjapantravel.navitime.com
Daisen Kofun is 486 meters long. Located in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan's largest kofun is truly epic at 486 meters long.
Nintoku Mausoleum: Exploring the Tomb of Japan's ...mausoleums.com
The Nintoku Mausoleum, also known as Daisen Kofun, is Japan's largest tomb and a symbol of the Kofun period's architectural brilliance.
A Burial Site Fit for an Emperorscience.nasa.gov
The Daisenryo Kofun is the largest in Japan, but little is known about what lies inside. One glimpse came in 1872, when a severe storm damaged ...
Emperor Nintoku's Tomb (Daisenryo Tomb) Tourist Guideosaka-info.jp
Japan's largest keyhole-shaped tomb, measuring 486m in length, this tumulus is encircled by a sightseeing walkway that takes an hour to walk around.
Visit the Largest Tombs of Japan in Sakai, Osakavoyapon.com
This is the tomb of Emperor Nintoku who died in 399 after ruling Japan. Nintokuryo, Japan's largest kofun, in Sakai, Osaka, Kinki, Japan.
Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun | Takenouchikaidoutakenouchikaidou.com
Japan's largest keyhole-shaped mouded tomb is 486m long, with the square front part 307m wide, and is called one of the world's three great tombs alongside the ...
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