古墳(こふん)

こふん
noun
ancient burial mound, tumulus
academichistorygeography
1. ancient burial mound, tumulus
A large earthen mound built as a tomb for rulers and powerful figures in ancient Japan, dating mainly from the 3rd to 7th centuries. The most distinctive type is the keyhole-shaped mound (前方後円墳(ぜんぽうこうえんふん)).
この古墳(こふん)は五世紀(ごせいき)のものだ。
This burial mound dates from the 5th century.
大阪(おおさか)には世界最大(せかいさいだい)の古墳(こふん)がある。
Osaka has the world's largest burial mound.
古墳(こふん)時代(じだい)には多(おお)くの豪族(ごうぞく)が巨大(きょだい)な墓(はか)を築(きず)いた。
During the Kofun period, many powerful clans built enormous tombs.

The 古墳(こふん)時代(じだい) (Kofun period, c. 250-538 CE) is named after these burial mounds. The most famous is 仁徳天皇陵(にんとくてんのうりょう) in 堺(さかい), 大阪(おおさか), the largest keyhole-shaped tomb in the world. Many 古墳(こふん) have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Common collocations

  • 古墳(こふん)時代(じだい) — the Kofun period
  • 前方後円墳(ぜんぽうこうえんふん) — keyhole-shaped burial mound
  • 古墳(こふん)群(ぐん) — a group of burial mounds
  • 古墳(こふん)を発掘(はっくつ)する — to excavate a burial mound
general
Added 2026.2.18 22:38 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
11500/11853_kofun