Post by washi on Apr 13, 2015 9:16:08 GMT
Jingū Tennō, Entering the Promised Land -- A 19th Century Wood Block Print
For many years, a kofun or ancient burial mound in downtown Nara was identified in the GED Layer as the tomb of the Empress Jingū. It is, on both Google Maps and at the site itself, identified as the tomb of the Emperor Kaika, the 9th Emperor of Japan. There is considerable reason to doubt that either of these people ever actually existed, let alone to assume that the bodies buried in the tombs that bear their names are those of the people named.
For the foreign visitor, eager to see in a short time as much of Japan as possible, this kofun may be the most convenient to visit. Many foreigners take advantage of the short-term rail pass, and so walk right past it as they go from the JR Nara Station to Kōfukuji, Tōdaiji, Kasuga Grand Shrine, the National Museum, and the other attractions in the Nara Park area. From that well traveled street, a mere 10 minute detour will allow one to see a kofun, and see it about as well as you are able to see almost any of these fascinating ancient structures. In this 1300th anniversary year of the founding of the Nara capital, I think many visitors may wish to glimpse this reminder of the time, 4 centuries before the founding, when this area had once before been the (or at least a) locus of political power in Japan. And even if one enters Nara from the Kintetsu Nara Station, or wants to glimpse the kofun from other angles, it should take no more than 45 minutes to do so. I think these visitors, many of whom won't be able to read the Japanese, might want to know what they are seeing.
The traditionally named tombs of both Kaika and Jingū are placemarked in this file.
For the foreign visitor, eager to see in a short time as much of Japan as possible, this kofun may be the most convenient to visit. Many foreigners take advantage of the short-term rail pass, and so walk right past it as they go from the JR Nara Station to Kōfukuji, Tōdaiji, Kasuga Grand Shrine, the National Museum, and the other attractions in the Nara Park area. From that well traveled street, a mere 10 minute detour will allow one to see a kofun, and see it about as well as you are able to see almost any of these fascinating ancient structures. In this 1300th anniversary year of the founding of the Nara capital, I think many visitors may wish to glimpse this reminder of the time, 4 centuries before the founding, when this area had once before been the (or at least a) locus of political power in Japan. And even if one enters Nara from the Kintetsu Nara Station, or wants to glimpse the kofun from other angles, it should take no more than 45 minutes to do so. I think these visitors, many of whom won't be able to read the Japanese, might want to know what they are seeing.
The traditionally named tombs of both Kaika and Jingū are placemarked in this file.
Download File
