514 KErOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



H. Von Siebold, in his ]S"(:)tes of Japanese Arclifeology, writes that the 

 earliest mode of bnrial in rrapan was under a mound or tumulus. About 

 400 to 500 years after tlie death of the first Emjieror, stone coffins, made 

 of several stone ])lates, or more rarely of a single block, were introduced. 

 These measured G to 12 feet by 3 to 5 feet and the sides were 3 to G 

 inches thick, Theie were handles on the sides of the cover. I have 

 not seen any coffins made of stone plates such as Von Siebold describes, 

 but coffins hewn out of solid blocks of stone arc not uncommon. 



The date of the introduction of stone coffins, according to Von Sie- 

 bold, as above stated, is from E. v. 85 to A. D. 15. He gives a range 

 of a century. The Kojili tells of the establishment of stone coffin makers 

 in the reign of Suinin. 29 B. c. to 70 A. d. These dates are not to be 

 depended upon, for the early Japanese chronology is very unreliable. 

 It is not improbable that stone coffins Avere made much earlier than the 

 dates given, for it is difficult to believe that the rock caves and simple 

 mounds in which the coffins are found are not much older than the 

 Christian era. 



PI. XXXV represents a simple mound of earth near Domioji, in which a 

 stone coffin was buried, now exposed by tlu' washing away of the earth. 

 Observe the size and shape of the coffin, which is a good type. In my 

 experience such mounds with stone coffins are not common. 



Since it is impossible to follow a chronological order in describing the 

 different forms of mounds, it will be more convenient to consider first the 

 imperial mounds. 



Thefirstfifteen Mika(h>s were nearly all buried in the Province Yamato. 

 The first Mikado, .limmu Tenno, who is rei»uted to have lived in the 

 seventh century b, c, and died at the good old age of 127 years, is said 

 to be buried at a, famous hill in Yaniato, known as Unebi Vama. This 

 small hill rises from the broad Yaniato plain, a conspicuous object for 

 miles around. The spot of burial is in the plain near the base of the 

 hill, and is now surrounded by a fine stone fence. The photograph 

 (PI. xxxvi) was taken from the hillside. Tlie large inclosure is entered 

 through a broad gateway opposite the cluster of houses seen on the 

 right. A fine, graveled walk surrounds the inner inclosure, and on 

 certain days only the people are x)ermitted to enter ami make their de- 

 votions in frojit of the torii or temple gateway, which is to be seen at 

 the middle of the inner wall, facing south. Every year the Mikado 

 sends an officer to this place to make offerings to his departed ancestor. 

 This ceremony takes place in the presence of officials and a company 

 of soldiers on the 3d of April. 



The imperial tombs are known as Misasagi. To the right, and a little 

 beyond the inclosure of the first emperor, there is a conspicuous white 

 Avail surrounding a mound. This is the Misasagi of the second emperor. 

 This mound and other imperial tombs of the same era belong to a 

 type which I believe is peculiar to Japan. They will be designated 

 (iouble mounds because the two ends are elevated Avith a depression 



