Takamatsuzuka Tomb - Takamatsuzuka Tomb

A mural-painted tumulus from the late 7th century to the early 8th century that represents the Asuka tumuli. A special historic site. A circular tumulus measuring approximately 20 meters in diameter and 5 meters in height, built on the southern slope of a hill in Hirata, Asuka Village, Takaichi County, Nara Prefecture.

The burial facility is a sarcophagus-style stone chamber made of tuff in the centre of the mound, opening to the south. Its interior dimensions are 265.5cm long, 103.5cm wide, and 113.4cm high. The walls, ceiling and floor inside the stone chamber are plastered, and murals are painted on the east, west and north walls and ceiling. A blue dragon is placed in the centre of the east wall, with a statue of the sun above, a group of four men to the south and a group of four women to the north. A white tiger is also placed in the centre of the west wall with a statue of the moon above it, a group of four men to the south and a group of four women to the north, and a black tortoise is painted in the centre of the north wall. Gold leaf cut into pieces 9mm in diameter are used to create stars on the ceiling, connected by vermilion lines to create a constellation of stars.

In front of the stone chamber, a three-metre-wide burial passage leads out along the central axis, and five metres south of the stone wall door stone lies the square cut stone prayer stone that was the motivation for the excavation. The mound covering the stone chamber was built using tamped earth, with layers of different soil types pounded together. The lacquered wooden coffin excavated on the west side of the stone chamber has a vermilion finish on a white clay base on the inside. The exterior has gold leaf applied over a lacquer film. The remains included those of a middle-aged man. The coffin appears to have been decorated, with gilt bronze openwork fittings, circular fittings and gilt bronze seat fittings. It was looted in the Middle Ages, but grave goods left behind include a copper-nickel mirror decorated with sea creatures and grapes, a silver-plated sword exterior, glass beads and amber beads. The excavated items are on display at the Asuka National Museum of Natural History.

The discovery of the murals in March 1972 (Showa 47) had a major impact on archaeology, ancient history, art history, and other related fields. It also attracted public attention, and a conservation facility was built to conserve the murals, mobilizing the full power of conservation science. Next to the burial mound is the Takamatsuzuka Mural Museum, which displays copies of the murals.

[Inokuma Kanekatsu]

"Takamatsuzuka Tomb" edited by Kanekatsu Inokuma and Akiyoshi Watanabe (Japanese Art 217, 1984, Shibundo) " "Takamatsuzuka Tomb Murals" edited by the Takamatsuzuka General Academic Research Committee (1974, Benrido)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

飛鳥(あすか)の古墳を代表する7世紀末～8世紀初頭の壁画古墳。特別史跡。奈良県高市(たかいち)郡明日香(あすか)村平田の丘陵南斜面に築かれた直径約20メートル、高さ約5メートルの円墳。

　埋葬の施設は墳丘中央で南に開口する凝灰岩製の石棺式石室。内法(うちのり)は長さ265.5センチメートル、幅103.5センチメートル、高さ113.4センチメートル。石室内部の壁、天井、床に漆食(しっくい)を塗り、東・西・北壁と天井に壁画を描く。東壁の中央に青竜(せいりゅう)、上に日像、南に男子4人群像、北に女子4人群像。西壁も中央に白虎(びゃっこ)、その上に月像を配し、南に男子4人群像、北に女子4人群像、また北壁の中央に玄武(げんぶ)を描く。天井には径9ミリメートルに切り抜いた金箔(きんぱく)を星とし、朱線で結ぶ星宿をつくる。

　石室前には中軸線上に幅3メートルの墓道が墳丘外へと開き、石壁扉石より南5メートルには発掘の動機となった方形切り石の礼拝石がある。石室を覆う墳丘土は土質の異なる盛土(もりつち)を互層に叩(たた)きしめた版築で築く。石室西寄りに出土した漆塗り木棺は内面を白土の下地に朱彩。外面は漆膜上に金箔を貼(は)る。人骨は熟年男性一体分があった。棺は装飾されたらしく、金銅製の透飾金具、円形飾金具、金銅製座金具がある。中世に盗掘にあったが、残された副葬品は白銅製海獣葡萄鏡(ぶどうきょう)、銀装大刀外装具、ガラス玉、琥珀(こはく)玉があった。出土品は国立飛鳥資科館で展示している。

　1972年（昭和47）3月の壁画発見は、考古学、古代史、美術史をはじめ、関連分野にも多くの影響を与えた。また社会的にも関心が集まり、壁画保存のため保存科学の総力をあげた保存施設がつくられた。古墳横に壁画の模写を展示する高松塚壁画館がある。

［猪熊兼勝］

『猪熊兼勝・渡辺明義編『高松塚古墳』（『日本の美術217』1984・至文堂）』▽『高松塚総合学術調査会編『高松塚古墳壁画』（1974・便利堂）』

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