Takamatsuzuka Tomb has beautiful mural painting

The Takamatsuzuka Tomb (高松塚古墳, Takamatsuzuka Kofun^?) or "Tall Pine Tree Ancient Burial Mound" in Japanese is an ancient tomb of circular shape located in Asuka village, Nara prefecture, Japan. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 457 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (500 × 656 pixel, file size: 50 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Byako, the white tiger of Japanese mythology, Asuka period. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 457 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (500 × 656 pixel, file size: 50 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Byako, the white tiger of Japanese mythology, Asuka period. ... A tomb is a small building (or vault) for the remains of the dead, with walls, a roof, and (if it is to be used for more than one corpse) a door. ... Asuka is the name of the old Japanese capital of the 6th century, Asuka ). The capital gave the Asuka period its name. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Nara Prefecture ) is part of the Kinki region on HonshÅ« Island, Japan. ...

The tomb is thought to have been built at some time between the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th century, but was accidentally discovered by a local farmer in the 1960s.

The mound of the tomb was built up in alternating layers of clay and sand. It is about 16 meters in diameter and 5 meters in height. Digging yielded a burial chamber with beautifully-painted fresco wall paintings of courtiers in Korean-style garb. The paintings are in full color with red, blue, gold, and silver foil representing four male followers and four abigails together with the Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and Chinese constellations of stars. The paintings are disgnated as a national treasure of Japan. The Gay Head cliffs in Marthas Vineyard are made almost entirely of clay. ... Patterns in the sand Sand is a granular material made up of fine rock particles. ... Fresco by Dionisius representing Saint Nicholas. ... A courtier is a person who attends upon, and thus receives a privileged position from, a powerful person, usually a head of state. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Black Tortoise (Chinese: ; pinyin: Xuán Wǔ, literally Black Warrior) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. ... The White Tiger (Chinese: ; pinyin: Bái Hǔ) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. ... Chinese constellations are different from the western constellations, due to the independent development of ancient Chinese astronomy. ... Jomon vessel with flame-like ornamentation, a national treasure of Japan. ...

For whom the tomb is built is unknown, but the decorations suggest it is for a member of the Japanese royal family or a high-ranking nobleman. Candidates include:

1. Prince Osakabe (? - 705), a son of Emperor Temmu
2. Prince Yuge (? - 699), also a son of Emperor Temmu
3. Prince Takechi (654? - 696), also a son of Emperor Temmu,general of Jinshin War,Daijō Daijin
4. Isonokami Ason Maro (640 - 717), a descendant of Mononobe clan and in charge of Fujiwara-kyo after the capital was moved to Heijo-kyo
5. Kudara no Konikishi Zenko (617-700), a son of the last king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

[1][2] Prince Osakabe (刑部(忍壁)親王, Osakabe Shinnō)(d. ... Emperor Temmu (天武天皇 Tenmu Tennō) (c. ... Prince Takechi (高市皇子 Takechi no ōji:654? - 696), also a son of Emperor Temmu,general of Jinshin War,Daijō Daijin(690 - 696) . He is the great human being. ... The Jinshin War (壬申の乱, Jinshin no Ran) was a succession dispute in Japan which broke out in 672 following the death of Emperor Tenji. ... Mononobe clan (物部氏; mononobe-shi) was an old Japanese clan of Yamato period. ... Fujiwara-kyo (藤原京) was the Imperial capital of Japan for 16 years between 694 and 710. ... The restored Suzakumon (gate) of Heijo Palace Heijo Palace (平城京) in Nara, was the Imperial Palace of Japan during the Nara Period (710-784 CE). ... The Kudara no Kinokishi (Japanese: ) was a Japanese clan whose founder was Zenkō ( or ), a son of the last kind of Baekje, King Uija. ... Baekje (or Paekche) and later Nambuyeo (18 BCE – 660 CE) was a kingdom in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. ... The Three Kingdoms of Korea were Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium CE. The Three Kingdoms period in Korea is usually considered to run from the 1st century BCE (specifically 57 BC) until Sillas triumph over...

The Cultural Affairs Agency of Japan is considering taking apart the stone chamber and reassembling it elsewhere to prevent further deterioration to its wall paintings. A painting called Asuka Bijin, or "beautiful women", is one of the murals in the tomb facing deterioration. The unusual preservation method is being considered because the tomb's current situation makes it impossible to prevent further damage and stop the spread of mold. Office building Office building The Agency for Cultural Affairs ) is a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT). ... Salle des illustres, ceiling painting, by Jean André Rixens. ... It has been suggested that Toxic mold be merged into this article or section. ...

Unlike with the Kitora Tomb, also in Asuka, removing pieces of the Takamatsuzuka wall plaster and reinforcing them for conservation appears difficult because the plaster has numerous tiny cracks. The Kitora Tomb ) is an ancient tumulus (kofun in Japanese) located in the village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture, Japan. ... // Gypsum plaster Plaster of Paris, or simply plaster, is a type of building material based on calcium sulfate hemihydrate, nominally (CaSO₄)₂*H₂O. It is created by heating gypsum to about 150 ℃, 2(CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) → (CaSO₄)₂ · H₂O + 3 H₂O (released as steam). ...

External links

• Takamatsuzuka ancient burial mound
• The Japan Times Weekly Online - Takamatsuzuka tomb to be moved
• Paekche Culture in Asuka Japan

See also

• History of Japan