Ancient site · Tomb
Daisenryō Kofun
Also known as Daisen Kofun, Tomb of Emperor Nintoku
Daisenryō, in Sakai near Osaka, is the largest kofun in Japan: a keyhole-shaped mound about 500 metres long inside triple moats, with the whole tomb area about 840 metres long. It is thought to have been built over some 20 years in the mid-5th century.
The Imperial Household Agency treats it as the tomb of Emperor Nintoku and keeps it closed, so its identity cannot be tested. It belongs to the Mozu Kofun Group, part of the Mozu-Furuichi UNESCO site listed in 2019, which shows the power of the Yamato kings.
- Dates
- mid-5th century CE
- Still standing
- Yes
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Yes
- Location
- 34.56° N, 135.49° E
How we know
The giant mound is real, but it has never been excavated, and its traditional owner, Emperor Nintoku, cannot be confirmed.
Nearby sites
- Hashihaka Kofun mid-3rd to early 4th century CE (debated)
- Yoshinogari before 400 BCE – 3rd century CE
- Bangudae Petroglyphs c. 5000 BCE – 9th century CE (approximate)
- Ōyu Stone Circles c. 2000–1500 BCE
- Songguk-ri c. 850–300 BCE
- Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa dolmens c. 1000–300 BCE (Bronze Age; Gochang group c. 7th century BCE)
Related
- Kofun culture (early Yamato) archaeological culture
- The world in 400: Rome Divided, Huns Advancing chapter