In tumuli dating from the 4th to the 6th centuries, there were
sarcophagi and burial chambers decorated with multi-colored paintings
and pictures etched in various patterns. Hence, the name, Decorated
Tumuli.
There are about 630 known tumuli of this type throughout the country.
And in particular, pristine examples of these drawings and pictures can
be seen in tumuli located throughout Northern and Central Kyushu. At the
Ozuka Tumulus of Fukuoka Prefecture, we can see various 5 colored
designs of red, green, yellow, black and white that were used to
decorate the burial chamber. The lower half of the inner burial chamber
is strewn with triangular designs, arms, and armor and
the upper half with roundish stars.
Meanwhile, at the end of the Kofun Period of Japanese history, and in
particular, at two tumuli in Asuka, Nara Prefecture, ancient artists
painted realistic scenes based on traditional Chinese themes. This kind
of tumull is called Frescoed Tumulus.
At the famous Takamatsuzuka Tumulus, all along the walls of its inner
burial chamber are the images of the four quarter's spiritus in the
shape of green dragons for the East and white tigers for the West, and
images of a group of men and a group of women, and images of the sun and
moon. And all across the ceiling are images of stars and other celestial
bodies. All of which are delicately painted in colors that remain true.
The big difference between Decorated Tumuli and Frescoed Tumuli is
Decorated Tumuli are decorated with abstract paintings and Frescoed
Tumuli are decorated with more realistic paintings.
What these two types of tumuli have in common is that we are able to see
paintings in both of them. But what are the historical stories behind
these pictures? What are they rying to tell us? A world painted within a
burial chamber . . .
＊Event Information＊
April 18 to June 18, 2000
Special Admission:￥600/400
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 P.m.
1st HISTORY TALK
Sun. April 23 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "The Chinese Decorated Tombs"
Osamu Oba (Director, CAM)
2st HISTORY TALK
Sun. May 14 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "The Japanese Decorated Tumuli"
Isao Ishiyama (Chief of the Local History Section, Fukuoka Prefecture
Library)
3st HISTORY TALK
Sun. June 11 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "The Mural Paintings in the Asuka Period"
Takamichi Arisaka (Professor Emeritus, Kwansai University)
●HISTORY TOUR
Sun. May 21 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.(free/the member per 30persons;
Please call the CAM office at 0721-93-8327) "Walking to the Decorated Tumuli in Kawachi Area"
