“Is this really just a tomb?” I hear you ask. It’s a fair question standing here before the \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893. This ancient burial site whispers tales of a distant past. It offers a glimpse into the lives and beliefs of those who lived here centuries ago.
Let’s step back in time to the 7th century. This is when the \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893 was constructed. Known formally as “No.313\u907a\u8de11\u53f7\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893,” the name \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893 is a local term of endearment. Imagine the landscape then. This area was very different from the bustling Tokyo we know today.
The \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893 is a Yok穴墓 or a horizontal cave tomb. This type of tomb was built into the hillside. The \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893 consists of a forecourt and a burial chamber. The forecourt is impressively large. It measures 19 meters long and 4 meters wide. It stands 3.3 meters high. This is one of the largest of its kind in the country.
Notice the stone accumulation on either side of the forecourt. It rises to a height of 3.4 meters. The entrance to the burial chamber is made of meticulously cut stone. Inside the chamber stretches 7 meters long. It measures 3.1 meters wide and 2.3 meters high. The burial chamber of the \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893 is shaped like a feather plank.
When the \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893 was discovered in 1997 during the Tama New Town construction project, it was carefully excavated. Amongst the findings were bones and teeth. Iron knives and other metal objects were also found. Ornaments and fragments of glass flasks hint at the status of the interred. These artifacts are now preserved and displayed at the Tokyo Metropolitan Buried Cultural Properties Center in Tama City.
Originally, the \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893 stood on the left bank of the Sakai River. Following its excavation, it was moved. The tomb was reconstructed in Mitsume Yama Park, about 250 meters to the east. While the forecourt has been restored, the burial chamber itself has not.
The \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893 challenges previous notions. Horizontal tombs were once considered inferior to other ancient tombs. But its commanding position suggests otherwise. It stands as a testament to the power and influence of those it entombed.
So, as you stand before the \u4e45\u4fdd\u30f6\u8c37\u6238\u6a2a\u7a74\u5893, remember that you are looking at more than just a tomb. You are witnessing a symbol of authority. You are peering into a window into the past. You’re connecting with the people who shaped this land. Their legacy continues to resonate here today.