Case Studies of Environmental Designs on Historical Areas (VI)

On Designs of KO-FUN Constructions by Old Japanese, before 6th Century

Abstract

The Author studied construction arts in Japanese history before Asuka Era, to research foundations of Japanese landscape design or historic site conservation, and resulted following conclusions on prehistoric mausoleums (Ko-Fun) in Ka-Sen area where so-called Kawachi Dynasty stood in 4th and 5th century.
1) Prehistoric mausoleums, above mentioned, might appear in 3rd century with so-called Miwa Dynasty, as a great outdoor construction to symbolize ruler's force on those days.
2) In their historic background, chinese civilization had such influences that Kings of Wa or Yamato i.e. Japanese rulers in 1st or 3rd century A.D., were given Gold Stamps by Chinese Emperor, and Chinese progressed civilizations were introduced to Japan islands. They may show origins of Japanese prehistoric tales i.e. the celebration of God on Ten-no.
3) Such great mausoleum construction as a pyramid of 1.4 million cubic metre earth, i.e. Ojin Tenno Ryo or Nintoku Ten-no Ryo, might appear by success of Kawachi Dynasty in Asian continent, under Chinese cultural influences, to make contrusts with Chinese Emperor's Tomb as symbols of Japanese Ten-no's forces.
4) Kawachi Dynasty showed her forces there, in 5th century to be appointed “Five Kings in Wa, as East Land Rulers” by Chinese Emperor, but when New Dynasty of Keitai Ten-no came, they had less interest on above problems and failed to keep her position in south Korea Area.
After that, their civilizational tendency changed and mausoleums became smaller from Eth century. A reason of above artificial mausoleum's lots might come from little love of Japanese for them in those days, because of their appreciation on Japanese beautiful natural landscape.
Besides them, it is also studied present citizen's thoughts on conservations of these historic cultural beings in Areas of Kawachi-Furuichi, and conclused beings of living demand problems of today on them.