THE ANCIENT BURIAL MOUNDS OF JAPAN. 515 



betweeu theui. The mounds are entirely surrounded by deep moatwS 

 filled Avitli water. 



It iy unfortunate that these tumuli are being improved and beauti- 

 fied by the general Government, for their original character is thereby 

 changed beyond recognition. We have a good illustration of this fact 

 in the mound last mentioned. A few years since (in 1882) it was sur- 

 rounded by an old wooden fence, octagonal in form, measuring about 33 

 paces across the southern end. Now the inclosure is sqnare and very 

 much larger. The archjieologist may well deplore the activity of the Jap- 

 anese in this direction, for these old tumuli of Mikados of the mythical 

 age are being so changed that their primitive character and shape are 

 forever lost. White stone fences, carved stone lanterns and torii, and 

 graveled walks have no association with the strict simplicity of the 

 past. iS^othing can justify to an ethnologist snch alterations as have 

 already been carried out in Yamato. 



PI. xxxviT is copied from Japanese drawings. For these, and for 

 others of the same character, I am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. K. 

 Yamanouchi, secretary of the imiierial household department. The first 

 drawing on the left purports to represent the earliest form of double 

 mound. Here we see the wide moat and two 'distinct elevations with a 

 depression between them. The deep depression is the result of weath- 

 ering and was not a i>art of the original design. The south end is 

 straight, the north end rounded. The interment was at the top of the 

 northern elevation. 



The ground plan is more clearly shown in the lower drawing. The 

 sides are constricted to correspond with the depression at the top. The 

 two lateral jn-qjections are not often seen. The sides of the mound are 

 terraced as represented. This terraced structure will soon receive closer 

 attention. The interment was in the center of the smallest circle, at 

 the top of the rounded end. This form of mound is ascribed by the 

 Japanese to the period from Jimmu Tenno to G40 A. d. As this period 

 embraced about twelve centuries it may be accepted as probably correct. 



The original form of the double mound is only to l^e made out by the 

 careful examination of numerous examples, for nearly all have become 

 greatly changed by weathering. The tumulus of Nintoku Tenno, near 

 Sakai, is represented in PI. xxxviii as seen from the southeast. In this 

 picture may be seen the straight southern end of tlie mound, the exag- 

 gerated depression at the top, and the constricted side. Tlie wide and 

 deep moat is only an inner moat, for this mound is doubly protected. 

 This mound, according to Japanese reckoning, dates from about the 

 fourth century. The height of this tumulus is about 100 feet and the 

 circuit of the base 1,526 yards. 



The tumulus of Keitai Tenno is a very large mound, a landmark for 

 miles around in the rich, flat valley of the Yodo, not far from Ibaraki. 

 On the signboard is an inscription which was translated for me as fol- 

 lows: '^Keitai Tenno mishima misasagi. Distance around, 519 ken 6 



