Uncovered Secrets: Rare Artifacts Emerge from Emperor Nintoku’s 5th-Century Tomb, Shattering Historical Mysteries
The Artifacts Recovered From The Daisen Kofun In The 19th Century
Among the artifacts now in the museum’s collection was an elaborate knife that was broken in two. It was encased in a wooden sheath with a gold-plated copper fitting. Notably, the design is unlike any other finding, domestic or foreign, from the fifth century. Also of note: Kashiwagi did not produce an illustration of the knife. Perhaps, researchers theorized, this was because he privately retained some of the excavated items.
However, the other artifact — fragments of iron armor coated with gold — did appear in Kashiwagi’s illustrations. Descriptions on the paper that was used to wrap the artifacts specifically noted that these objects had come from Emperor Nintoku’s tomb, which aligned with other tests that dated them to the fifth century.
These objects were not for everyday use but rather were seemingly crafted specifically as grave goods for the emperor.
Kokugakuin University MuseumA closer look at the knife and armor fragments.
While some items at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston are believed to have come from Nintoku’s tomb, recent studies suggest they may have been misdated. The objects acquired by Kokugakuin University Museum, on the other hand, are the first to be definitively linked to the burial mound.
After reading about these artifacts from Emperor Nintoku’s tomb, learn all about yōkai, the mischievous and strange spirits of Japanese folklore. Then, read the incredible story of legendary swordsman Sasaki Kojirō.
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