"The Rule of Emperor Ohjin in Kofun
Period- The Rise of the Imperial Power in Kawachi Region-"
During the second half of the 4th to the 5th century when the relationship
among ancient China, Korea and Japan became closer, Japanese kings at that
time built numerous Kofun,, tumuli with burial mounds, in Kawachi Region, the
center part of Osaka Prefecture, to form a great cluster now called eFuruichi-Mozu
Kofun Tumulif.
Some archaeologists regard the form of the cluster of the tumuli as the rise
of the power which put its base on Kawachi Region. It is regarded to be the
rise of the Imperial Power in Kawachi Region.
The biggest Kofun in Furuichi Kofun Tumuli is called Emperor Ohjin`s Kofun. As
no archaeological Surveys have been carried out at this Kofun, its profile is
quite obscure. More famous is the biggest key-hole shaped Kofun in our country
called Emperor Nintoku`s Kofun in Mozu Kofun Tumuli.
Nevertheless, Emperor Ohjin and his Kofun have the very important meanings in
Japanese ancient history. It is the super-sized key-hole shaped Kofun built by
the Imperial Power in Kawachi Region. And the period before and after the rule
of Emperor Ohjin who is regarded to have actually existed as a king in the 5th
century is supposed to be a big turning point for both the political and international
relaitionship of ancient Japan.
At Mitsuzuka Kofun located in the near northeastern part of Emperor Ohjin`s Kofun,
two wooden instruments for transportation of the huge stones or sarcophagi called
Shura. Shura was necessary for the construction of a great Kofun. Maybe it had
been used during the construction work of Emperor Ohjin`s Kofun. These Shura were registered as the Important Cultural Property this year.
At this exhibition, we put light on both Emperor Ohjin`s Kofun and his ruling
period. We hope that we can show you the real image of the rise of the Imperial
Power in Kawachi Region.
