# Preservation measures for the kofun (tumulus) murals

## [The dismantling of the Takamatsuzuka kofun stone chamber]

## O Takamatsuzuka kofun murals

Located in Asuka village, Nara prefecture, and constructed around the end of the 7th century, the Takamatsuzuka kofun is an extremely valuable piece of cultural heritage along with the Kitora kofun, with its murals in the kofun stone chambers depicting richly colored paintings (of the Four Symbols (Black Tortoise, White Tiger, Azure Dragon) and figures). The murals were discovered in 1972, the tomb was designated a historical landmark 1973, and in 1974 the murals were designated as national treasures.

## The path to dismantling

With the discovery of the murals and the opening of the stone chamber, the environment that had been long preserved has changed and the repeated damage through mold has deteriorated the plaster, etc. For this reason, the association that considers eternal preservation measures of the murals have considered fundamental preservation measures, and reached the conclusion that further preservation at the site will be difficult. The preservation plans that "dismantle and repair by entirely removing the stone chamber murals, and in the future secure an environment that will not be influenced by negative elements such as mold, and finally return it to the original site," was decided on June 2005. Following this, there were real-size models of the tumulus mound and the stone chamber of the Takamatsuzuka which were made to help prepare for the dismantling, production and adjustments of hauling devices, etc., as well as the preparations to set the preservation house and the cooling of the tumulus mound part in order to maintain the humidity and temperature at certain levels within the stone chamber.

## ☐ The dismantling of the stone chamber

Excavations to take out the stone chamber have been underway since October 2006, and in parallel to the excavation, the process of dismantling the stone chamber has started from April 2007. On the 5th of the same month, with the ceiling stone as the start, pieces were taken out one after another. By June, all of the national treasure murals were brought to a temporary repair facility, with the final four floor stones taken out in August, completing the dismantling of the stone chamber. This was the dismantling process:

① Cutting the ground (Separating the murals from the ground and other stones)

② Hauling (Using hauling devices)

③ Transferring (From insulated preservation house to the operation pedestals of the same height as the tumulus mound)

④ Wrapping/Rotation (Setting stones with a metal frame, then rotating the mural surface upwards)

⑤ Transporting with special transport vehicle

⑥ Bringing to repair facility

The hauling of the ceiling stones (28 May 2007)

## O Future developments

The murals that have been taken out will go through removals of mold marks as well as fortification treatments of weakened plasters. The tumulus mound after the excavation will be temporarily maintained by being refilled with sod.

In the future, initiatives will be taken to investigate the reasons for deterioration as well as the measures to prevent it, and to deal with the works of preserving/using the murals.

## [The stripping of the Kitora kofun murals]

The Kitora kofun, similarly to the Takamatsuzuka kofun, is located in Asuka village, Nara prefecture and was constructed around the end of the 7th century. The star chart depicted on the ceiling of the chamber is considered East Asia's oldest. Additionally, it has been designated as a special historic site because of its representation of all Four Symbols – Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise and Vermillion Bird – that is a historically and academically valuable cultural property. Later investigations revealed that there is a depiction of Zodiac animal-headed figures with human bodies beneath the Four Symbols.

The murals within the Kitora kofun stone chambers have suffered considerable damage since its discovery, and swift preservation measures were considered essential. Based on the discussions made at the "Research committee for the preservation and usage of the special historic site, Kitora kofun," there will be mold investigations in the stone chambers, as well as the stripping down of the murals one after another which have been underway since August 2004. Currently, all of the Four Symbols in addition to the Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Horse, Dog, and Boar of the Zodiac animal-headed figures with human bodies, are being taken down.

Currently as an emergency measure, spatulas, etc. are being used to strip off parts of the star chart on the ceiling that are in danger of falling down, in addition to the considerations being made in regards to the use of diamond bands/saws as means to strip off mural parts.