Kofun period (Ushiku)

The Kofun period (around 250 to 538 CE) in Japan is marked by the construction of large burial mounds called kofun, which served as tombs for powerful rulers and aristocrats. These keyhole-shaped mounds reflect a centralized political structure and evolving culture influenced by contact with Korea and China. During this time, Japan saw the development of social hierarchies, complex craftsmanship, and early state formation. The period is crucial for understanding Japan's rise toward a unified nation and the emergence of its distinctive craftsmanship, religion, and political organization.