Osaka and the Chinese continent: connected by the sea

Important Cultural Property　Haniwa clay boats from Nagahara-Takamawari No. 1 and No. 2 Burial Mounds　No. 1 burial mound: late 4th century to early 5th century　No. 2 burial mound: 2nd half to the end of the 4th century

These clay boats were discovered in 1987 in the No. 1 and No. 2 Nagahara-Takamawari Burial Mounds at the Nagahara site in the Hirano-ku of Osaka, along with a large number of haniwa clay representations of items such as helmets, armor, shields and houses. They are excellent examples of haniwa clay from the late 4th century through to the early 5th century, and were designated as the National Important Cultural Property in 1992. These haniwa clay boats represent the large boats used in funeral ceremonies, and provide evidence of direct interaction between Osaka and the Chinese continent during the Kofun Tumulus period. The exceptional design and craftsmanship is a testament to the skill and innovation of Nagahara craftsmen during this period.