Kofun period

E54396

The Kofun period was an early Japanese historical era (c. 3rd–6th century) characterized by the construction of large keyhole-shaped burial mounds for powerful elites and the emergence of a centralized Yamato polity.

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Japanese historical era
historical period
artStyle distinctive metalwork
haniwa sculpture
associatedWith Imperial House of Japan
surface form: Imperial House of Japan (mythic and early historical origins)

increased contact with Chinese dynasties
increased contact with Korean Peninsula
kuni no miyatsuko local rulers
spread of wet-rice agriculture
uji clan system
burialCustom keyhole-shaped zenpō-kōen-fun mounds
round and square kofun mounds
stone burial chambers
capital Yamato region NERFINISHED
characterizedBy emergence of Yamato polity
keyhole-shaped tombs
large burial mounds
chronologyPosition after Yayoi period in Japanese prehistory
before Asuka period in classical Japan
country Japan
culture Yamato period
surface form: Yamato culture
economy agricultural base
tribute and redistribution system
endTime 6th century
followedBy Yamato period
surface form: Asuka period
follows Yayoi period
governmentForm chiefdom confederation evolving toward monarchy
hasCharacteristic development of large-scale labor mobilization
elite burial practices
hierarchical social structure
increasing political centralization
introduction of horse culture
iron weaponry and armor
rise of powerful regional chieftains
use of haniwa clay figures
hasPart early Kofun period
late Kofun period
middle Kofun period
language early Old Japanese (hypothesized)
legalStatus part of the Japanese archaeological chronology
locatedInTimePeriod protohistoric Japan
military mounted warrior elites
use of iron swords and armor
namedAfter kofun tumuli
politicalCenter Yamato polity
religion early Shinto practices
socialStructure emergent state-level society
startTime 3rd century

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Yamato polity associatedPeriod Kofun period
Sakai Mozu Kofun Group period Kofun period
Yamato period precededBy Kofun period
Yamato polity startTime Kofun period
Imperial tombs timePeriod Kofun period