Study Evening: The Role of the Horse and the Illusion of a Warrior Elite in the Kofun Period

Horseback warriors in early Japanese history?

Studienabend: Die Rolle des Pferdes und die Illusion einer Kriegerelite in der Kofun-Zeit – Studienabend: Die Rolle des Pferdes und die Illusion einer Kriegerelite in der Kofun-Zeit

The Middle Kofun period (late 4th–5th centuries CE) was a time of profound changes in Kofun-era society. The sharp increase in grave goods consisting of weapons and armor is often associated with the emergence of a warrior elite, while the introduction of the horse is frequently interpreted as a response to military developments on the Eurasian mainland.

However, the archaeological evidence tells a different story. Burial mounds and ritual sites reveal the religious and representational roles that both offensive and defensive weaponry, as well as the horse, played during the Kofun period. An analysis of the grave goods shows that the elites used their access to prestige goods to build a transregional network of allies through their distribution.

The special significance of the horse during the Kofun period continued to have a lasting influence on Japanese society for centuries to come.Translated with DeepL

Price info: Price per person

Limited seating

Price: €5.00

Next date:

• Date Friday, 16/October/2026 19:15 bis 20:15
• Venue Samurai Museum Berlin
• Address Auguststraße 68, 10117 Berlin-Mitte