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Four directional beasts on four walls and a star chart on the ceiling - the only tomb where all four survive.
About this place
The Kitora Tomb (キトラ古墳, Kitora Kofun) is an ancient tumulus (kofun in Japanese) located in the village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The tomb is believed to have been constructed some time between the 7th and early 8th centuries, but was only discovered in 1983. A small stone chamber, the Kitora Tomb is a little over 1 metre in height and width and about 2.4 metres long, just large enough to bury a single person. The four walls are aligned with the cardinal points of the compass, and respectively feature the Black Divine Tortoise of the North, the Azure Dragon of the East, the Red Phoenix of the South, and the White Tiger of the West. On the ceiling of the chamber, there is also an astronomical chart that has been the focus of much research and debate by scholars in the field of archaeoastronomy. In addition, the 12 zodiac animal-headed figures with human bodies are painted on the wall, which may be one of the oldest remaining zodiac murals in East Asia. Fragments of a lacquered wooden coffin, torn apart when the tomb was robbed, lay 5 cm thick on the chamber floor, mixed with grave goods and human bone. A gilded bronze fitting and sword decorations were discovered, both executed with superbly inlaid patterns. Based upon analysis of the bone fragments and items found in the tomb, it is believed the interred was a middle-aged or older male of aristocratic background. The paintings have suffered the ravages of time, and, as National Treasure of Japan and World Heritage, the
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗Key facts
Founded / opened：end of the 7th century Highlights / collection：Mural of the Four Guardians, One of the oldest astronomical charts in East Asia Genre：Nihonga (Japanese-style painting), Antique art and Buddhist art
Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗Official website
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Source asuka-park.go.jp ↗Before you go
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