A friend who lives in Tokyo told me, “I want to go to Okayama.”
When I asked, “Where would you like to go?” they said, “I want to visit the Tatetsuki Site because I heard UFOs appear there.” But I knew absolutely nothing about the Tatetsuki Site.
What’s more, when I looked it up, I discovered that the site was right near my home. I went there straight away and was amazed. I had no idea that a historically rare and important archaeological site was located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Kurashiki...
The mysterious scene was so otherworldly that it really wouldn’t have been surprising if a UFO had appeared. Intrigued by the question, “What on earth was this site built for?” I went to attend a lecture.
The information presented is as of the article’s publication in April 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is “Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku”?
Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku holds lectures on fascinating topics on the second Thursday of every month, under the concept of “a group dedicated to learning about the history and culture of the Bitchu and Kurashiki region and contributing to cultural enrichment.”
The venue is Kurashiki Community Center, located in the Bikan Historical Area. It is an elegant building with distinctive white walls, so it is easy to spot.
Anyone can attend for free, with no advance registration required. For details, check the dates and lecture topics on the official website.
The 177th lecture’s speaker: “Akira Fukumoto, Specially Appointed Professor at Okayama Shoka University”
The speaker at the 177th Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku lecture was Akira Fukumoto, Specially Appointed Professor at Okayama Shoka University.
Mr. Fukumoto is an archaeology expert who has also written a book about the Tatetsuki Site. Many people attended the lecture, showing just how much interest there is in the subject.
The Tatetsuki Site, which has also been featured on popular television programs, is famous throughout Japan. Why is it so well known? Apparently, there are two main reasons.
- It is the largest Yayoi-period tomb in Japan
- Its burial method is also highly unusual
And then there are these upright stones. The rock visible in the foreground of the photo is quite large, measuring 3.8 meters high, 2.9 meters wide, and 25 centimeters thick. The stones are arranged in two concentric circles.
Given the size of the tomb and the unusual burial practices, it is thought that the person buried there held considerable power.
“Perhaps the site was a stage set designed to demonstrate the grandeur of the king.”
That is what Mr. Fukumoto said. I’ll also share some of the spine-tingling mysteries of the Tatetsuki Site that I heard about at the lecture.
The mysterious sacred object, the Kotaimon-seki stone
Various objects have been unearthed from the Tatetsuki Site. Among them, the Kotaimon-seki stone is particularly mysterious.
The oval stone, about 90 centimeters long, bears a beautiful band-like pattern and a carving that looks like a face.
“This stone was probably used in a ritual to pass power from the deceased ruler of Kibi to the new ruler.”
That is what Mr. Fukumoto said. It must have been a solemn ceremony.
Another Kotaimon-seki stone, about 60 centimeters in size, was also unearthed. It had apparently been burned and deliberately broken. Broken magatama beads and pottery have also been found.
Even at modern funerals, bowls are sometimes broken. Perhaps it carries the same meaning: “It will never be used again.”
The ruler of the Kingdom of Kibi may have been a woman
Vermilion-colored mercury had been spread inside the wooden coffin.
This mercury is said to have been used to prevent decay. What is astonishing is that there was as much as 32 kilograms of it, and that it was of very high quality.
They were able to obtain large quantities of precious mercury believed to have come from abroad.
This also gives us a sense of the ruler’s power. Two teeth were also found in the coffin. According to experts, they were “small teeth belonging to someone aged 40 to 50.”
Mr. Fukumoto said, “The teeth were small, so perhaps the person known as the ruler of Kibi was a woman.”
The thought that the ruler of Kibi may have been a queen was exciting.
Could Himiko have been from Kibi?!
A special pedestal-shaped vessel decorated with patterns, unearthed at the Tatetsuki Site.
This is a type of pottery used in funerary rites exclusively in the Kibi region. Although this special pedestal-shaped vessel is associated with the Kibi region, an identical one was reportedly found at Hashihaka Kofun in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, which is said to be Himiko’s tomb.
This has led to speculation that Kibi and Himiko had close ties—in other words, that they may have been related by blood or allied. If Himiko and the ruler of Kibi were related, then based on the dates, the ruler may have been Himiko’s grandfather or grandmother.
In other words, if Himiko descended from the ruling family of Kibi, she may have been from Kibi herself.
The history of the Tatetsuki Site is becoming ever more fascinating as we wonder whether an important figure with close ties to Himiko lived there.
From the Writer
It is thought that the king’s funeral rites at the Tatetsuki Site were held at night.
About 1,800 years ago, flames blazed high over the town of Kurashiki as people broke rocks and pottery to send off their great ruler. Imagining the feelings and scene fills me with emotion, and makes me want to pass this history on to future generations.
Mr. Fukumoto said:
“The site cannot be preserved simply because researchers consider it important. I want people to learn about the site so they can see that preserving it benefits them, too.”
Plans are also underway to develop part of the site in 2026, and its full picture will gradually become clear. It may become even more famous nationwide.
When you visit Kurashiki, take a little detour and be sure to see the Tatetsuki Site. You’ll feel the immense power of the history and the rulers of the Kingdom of Kibi.
The next Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku lecture, to be held on April 11, 2024, will be about “Religion and Religious Figures in Okayama.” Why not learn about the region’s history and culture through Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku?
Articles about Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku
Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku Session 177: “Tatetsuki Site and Its Era” Information
| Name | Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku Session 177: “Tatetsuki Site and Its Era” |
|---|---|
| Date and time | March 14, 2024, 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. |
| Location | Kurashiki Community Center |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Bitchu Kurashiki-gaku |
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