Square tomb - Houfun

A kofun (tumulus) with a square-shaped mound in plan. There are both square and rectangular shapes. Those from the first half of the Kofun period are characterized by a wide flat area at the top, and many small tombs from the early Kofun period, as well as chieftain tombs, share this characteristic. In the 5th century, they often existed as secondary tombs of large keyhole-shaped tombs, but they were often built as medium-sized tombs on their own. In the 7th century, square tombs were used for the tombs of great kings, important tombs in the Kinki region, and the most important regional tombs after the disappearance of keyhole-shaped tombs, and 7th century temples were often built nearby. The largest square tomb in the Japanese archipelago is the Masuyama Kofun (tumulus) in Nara Prefecture, with each side measuring 85 meters.

[Takashi Imai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平面形が方形の墳丘をもつ古墳。正方形および長方形のものがある。古墳時代前半期のものは墳頂平坦(へいたん)部が広いのが特徴で、首長墳のほか前期小型墳にもこの特徴を有するものが多い。5世紀代には大型前方後円墳の陪塚(ばいづか)として存在する場合が多いが、単独に中型墳としてつくられることも少なくない。7世紀代には大王墳および近畿の有力墳、前方後円墳消滅後の地方最有力墳に方墳が用いられ、近隣に7世紀代の寺院がつくられることが多い。日本列島最大の方墳は奈良県桝山(ますやま)古墳で、一辺85メートルである。

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