Idera Tomb - Idera Tomb

Japanese: 井寺古墳 - いでらこふん

<br /> An ancient burial mound in Ide, Kashima-cho, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture. It is located on the southwest slope of a hill (approximately 21m above sea level) behind the Idera settlement, at the eastern end of the Kumamoto Plain. In 1921 (Taisho 10), it was designated a national historic site as a valuable decorated burial mound from the 5th century. The stone chamber is a horizontal-type chamber that opens to the west, and is 2.94m deep, 2.47m wide, and 3.08m high to the ceiling, with a 1.08m long, 0.56m wide gate in front of it. The chamber is made of cut stones made of Aso lava shaped like bricks, and the ceiling stone is a huge stone with an oblong shape carved into the inside. The inner wall and its top, both sides of the passage , the two sleeve stones at the entrance, and the surface of the stone beams are decorated with a pattern of straight lines surrounded by various arcs, painted in four colors: red, white, blue, and green. They are said to be the finest examples of straight arc patterns, and have been designated as Important Cultural Properties by the nation. Four iron swords are kept at the Kumamoto City Museum. Take the Kumamoto Bus from the Kumamoto Transportation Center at Kumamoto Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line or other lines to Idera, and walk for about 5 minutes.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

熊本県上益城(かみましき)郡嘉島町井手にある古墳。熊本平野の東端、井寺集落の背後の丘陵南西斜面（標高約21m）に所在する。1921年（大正10）に5世紀の貴重な装飾古墳として国の史跡に指定。石室は西に向かって開口する横穴式石室で、奥行き2.94m、幅2.47m、天井までの高さ3.08m、その前に長さ1.08m、幅0.56mの羨門(せんもん)がある。石室は、阿蘇溶岩を煉瓦状に整えた切り石を積み上げ、天井石は内面を長楕円形に抉(えぐ)った巨石を用いている。石障の内壁とその上面、羨道(せんどう)の両側壁、入り口の両袖石、石梁(せきりょう)の表面などには直線の周囲をさまざまな弧線で囲み、赤・白・青・緑の4色で塗り分けられた文様が描かれているが、直弧文では最も優れたものといわれ、国の重要文化財にも指定されている。熊本市立博物館に鉄刀4本を保管。JR鹿児島本線ほか熊本駅の熊本交通センターから熊本バス「井寺」下車、徒歩約5分。

出典　講談社国指定史跡ガイドについて　情報

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