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The Kofun period (ca. A.D. 250- 538) takes its name, which means old tomb (古墳 kofun) from the culture's rich funerary rituals and distinctive earthen mounds. The mounds contained large stone burial chambers. Some are surrounded by moats. By the late Kofun period, the distinctive burial chambers, originally used by the ruling elite, also were built for commoners.

Kofun came in many shapes, with round and square being the simplest. A distinct style is the keyhole (zempo koen) kofun, with its square front and round back (as seen from above). Many kofun were natural hills, which might have been sculpted to their final shape. Kofun range in size from several meters to over 400  meters in length. The biggest kofun are believed to be the tombs of emperors like Ojin and Nintoku. Kofun are also classified according to whether the entrance to the stone burial chamber is vertical (tate-ana) or horizontal (yoko-ana).

Haniwa horse statuette, complete with saddle and stirrups, 6th century, Japan. During the Kofun period, a highly aristocratic society with militaristic rulers developed. Its cavalry wore armor, carried swords and other weapons, and used advanced military methods like those of Northeast Asia. Evidence of these advances is seen in funerary figures (called haniwaThe Haniwa are funerary figures (literally, "clay rings"), found in thousands of kofun tombs (3rd-6th century CE) scattered throughout Japan. During the Kofun period, a highly aristocratic society with militaristic rulers developed. Its horse-riding warri; literally, clay rings), found in thousands of kofun scattered throughout Japan. The most important of the haniwaThe Haniwa are funerary figures (literally, "clay rings"), found in thousands of kofun tombs (3rd-6th century CE) scattered throughout Japan. During the Kofun period, a highly aristocratic society with militaristic rulers developed. Its horse-riding warri were found in southern HonshuHonshu is the largest island of Japan, called the Mainland it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and north-east of Kyushu across the Shimonoseki Strait. Worldwide, it is either the seventh or eighth lar--especially the Kinai region around Nara--and northern KyushuKyushu is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. An ancient name for Kyushu is Saikaido. It is considered the birthplace of Japanese civilization. Population: 13. 44 million (1995). Area: 35,640 km².. Haniwa grave offerings were made in numerous forms, such as horses, chickens, birds, fans, fish, houses, weapons, shields, sunshades, pillows, and male and female humans. Another funerary piece, the magatamaMagatama ( Japanese name; called Kokkok in Korean) are curved beads which first appear in Japan around the late Yayoi Period of Japan. They are often found inhumed in mounded tumulus graves as offerings to deities (see grave goods). They continue to be po, became one of the symbols of the power of the imperial house. Much of the material culture of the Kofun period is barely distinguishable from those of the contemperaneous Southern Korean Peninsula, demonstrating that at this time Japan was in close political and economic contact with continental Asia through Korea.

The Kofun period was a critical stage in Japan's evolution toward a more cohesive and recognized state. This society was most developed in the Kinai Region and the easternmost part of the Inland Sea ( Seto Naikai ). Japan's rulers of the time even petitioned the Chinese court for confirmation of royal titles.

The Yamato polityPolity is a general term that refers to political organization of a group. It is often used to describe a loosely organized society such as a tribe or community, but can mean any political group including a government or empire. See also body corporate an, which emerged by the late 5th century, was distinguished by powerful great clans or extended families, including their dependents. Each clan was headed by a patriarch who performed sacred rites to the clan's kami to ensure the long-term welfare of the clan. Clan members were the aristocracy, and the kingly line that controlled the Yamato court was at its pinnacle. The Kofun Period of Japanese culture is also sometimes called the Yamato Period by some Western Scholars, since this local Chieftain ship eventually rose up to become the Imperial Dynasty at the end of the Kofun Period. Japanese archaeologists find this a little predeterministic and emphasise the fact that in the early half of the Kofun Period other regional Chieftainships, such as Kibi near modern day Okayama were in close contention for the crown.

More exchange occurred between Japan and the continent of Asia late in the Kofun period. Buddhism was introduced from Korea, probably in A.D. 538, exposing Japan to a new body of religious doctrine. The Soga , a Japanese court family that rose to prominence with the accession of the Emperor Kimmei about A.D. 531, favored the adoption of Buddhism and of governmental and cultural models based on Chinese Confucianism. But some at the Yamato court--such as the Nakatomi (later known as Fujiwara) family, which was responsible for performing Shinto rituals at court, and the Mononobe , a military clan--were set on maintaining their prerogatives and resisted the alien religious influence of Buddhism. The Soga introduced Chinese-modeled fiscal policies, established the first national treasury. Acrimony continued between the Soga and the Nakatomi and Mononobe clans for more than a century, during which the Soga temporarily emerged ascendant.

The Kofun period is seen as ending by A.D. 538, when the use of elaborate kofun by the Yamato and other elite fell out of use because of prevailing new Buddhist beliefs, which put greater emphasis on the transience of human life. Commoners and the elite in outlying regions, however, continued to use kofun until the late 7th century, and simpler but distinctive tombs continued in use throughout the following period. The Kofun period was followed by the Asuka period.

See also: History of Japan