|
Kofun is an era in Japan from around A.D. 250 to A.D.538. It takes its
name, which means old tomb (古墳 kofun) from the culture's rich funerary
rituals and distinctive earthen mounds. The mounds contained large stone
burial chambers, many of which were shaped like keyholes and some of which
were surrounded by moats. By the late Kofun period, the distinctive burial
chambers, originally used by the ruling elite, also were built for
commoners.
During the Kofun period, a highly aristocratic society with militaristic
rulers developed. Its horse-riding warriors wore armor, carried swords and
other weapons, and used advanced military methods like those of Northeast
Asia.
Evidence of these advances is seen in funerary figures (called haniwa;
literally, clay rings), found in thousands of kofun scattered throughout
Japan. The most important of the haniwa were found in southern
Honshu--especially the Kinai region around Nara--and northern Kyushu. Haniwa
grave offerings were made in numerous forms, such as horses, chickens,
birds, fans, fish, houses, weapons, shields, sunshades, pillows, and male
and female humans. Another funerary piece, the magatama, became one of the
symbols of the power of the imperial house.
The Kofun period was a critical stage in Japan's evolution toward a
more cohesive and recognized state. This society was most developed in the
Kinai Region and the easternmost part of the Inland Sea (Seto Naikai), and
its armies established a foothold on the southern tip of Korea. Japan's
rulers of the time even petitioned the Chinese court for confirmation of
royal titles; the Chinese, in turn, recognized Japanese military control
over parts of the Korean peninsula.
The Yamato polity, which emerged by the late 5th century, was
distinguished by powerful great clans or extended families, including their
dependents. Each clan was headed by a patriarch who performed sacred rites
to the clan's kami to ensure the long-term welfare of the clan. Clan members
were the aristocracy, and the kingly line that controlled the Yamato court
was at its pinnacle.
More exchange occurred between Japan and the continent of Asia late in
the Kofun period. Buddhism was introduced from Korea, probably in A.D. 538,
exposing Japan to a new body of religious doctrine. The Soga, a Japanese
court family that rose to prominence with the accession of the Emperor
Kimmei about A.D. 531, favored the adoption of Buddhism and of governmental
and cultural models based on Chinese Confucianism. But some at the Yamato
court--such as the Nakatomi family, which was responsible for performing
Shinto rituals at court, and the Mononobe, a military clan--were set on
maintaining their prerogatives and resisted the alien religious influence of
Buddhism. The Soga introduced Chinese-modeled fiscal policies, established
the first national treasury, and considered the Korean peninsula a trade
route rather than an object of territorial expansion. Acrimony continued
between the Soga and the Nakatomi and Mononobe clans for more than a
century, during which the Soga temporarily emerged ascendant.
The Kofun period is seen as ending by A.D. 538, when the use of
elaborate kofun by the Yamato and other elite fell out of use because of
prevailing new Buddhist beliefs, which put greater emphasis on the
transience of human life. Commoners and the elite in outlying regions,
however, continued to use kofun until the late 7th century, and simpler but
distinctive tombs continued in use throughout the following period. The
Kofun period was followed by the Asuka period.
|
