Fujinoki Tomb

Fujinoki tomb (藤ノ木古墳, -kofun?) is a tumulus, known as a kofun in Japanese, located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is estimated to date from the later half of the sixth century or the late seventh century. The burial mound is about 40 or 48 metres in diameter, nine metres in height, and the stone chamber the mound covers is sixteen metres in length. Excavation began in 1985. The tomb yielded gilt-bronze ornaments, horse trappings, and a stone coffin.

The tomb's appearance is supplemented by the harness excavated in the tomb which is a Chinese products are imported via the Korean Peninsula. Michio Maezono (Professor, Nara College of Arts) and Taichiro Shiraishi (Professor, Nara University) argue that it is highly possible Prince Anahobe (uncle of Prince Shōtoku, assassinated by Soga no Umako) and Prince Yakabe (prince of the Emperor Senka) are the ones that were buried in this tumulus, because the tumulus was built when an assassination happened in June 587 according to "Nihonshoki" (Chronicles of Japan). . Additionally, Iō Yūsuke stated that the native Japanese of the day did not know the "meaning of the ornamental patterns carved on saddle fittings" nor "how to make such fittings." On the other hand, Yamamoto Tadanao of Tenri University claims that some masks or sculpture exhibit the Northern Wei Chinese style.