Kōgoishi (神篭石 or 神籠石) are earthenwork structures, on a stone foundation, constructed in Japan during the
Asuka period
The was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710, although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period. The Yamato period, Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after the ...
, particularly in areas around
Fukuoka
is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...
, on the island of
Kyūshū
is the third-largest island of Japan's four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa and the other Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Islands). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regio ...
. The name "''kōgoishi''" means "stones of divine protection," a name given them by the
Meiji period
The was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonizatio ...
archaeologist
Tsuboi Shōgorō, who conjectured that they served as spiritual or practical protection for sacred sites.
''Kōgoishi'' date to the 6th or 7th century CE, and are found predominantly in northern Kyūshū and on the shores of the
Inland Sea
An inland sea (also known as an epeiric sea or an epicontinental sea) is a continental body of water which is very large in area and is either completely surrounded by dry land (landlocked), or connected to an ocean by a river, strait or " arm of ...
. The longest one to be found, at 2.3 km in length, lies near the summit of
Mount Kōra (
:ja:高良山), near Fukuoka. The stones there are roughly one meter long, 50 cm high and 70 cm thick.
Scholars after Tsuboi determined that the structures are most likely the remains of practical, military fortifications, and were unlikely to have significant spiritual connections. The style and form of the ruins matches many in Korea;
the period when these were built was one of flourishing contact with Korea, and it is theorized that Korean stoneworkers, artisans, and architects may have
played a role in the construction of these fortresses.
Many scholars believe that some ''kōgoishi'' were built in anticipation of an attack from Korea,
FUNDAMENTALISM OF JAPAN -KYUSHU DYNASTY PRECEDING KINK EMPEROR- FURUTA Takehiko
An outline for presentation at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan on October 5, 2001, Translated by FUJISAWA Toru which never materialized.
Notes
Further reading
*
References
*Frederic, Louis (2002). "Kōgoishi." ''Japan Encyclopedia''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
''Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System''. Accessed 17 July 2007.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kogoishi
Asuka period
Archaeology of Japan
Castles in Japan