Suzaku in Kitora Kofun

Kofun is an ancient Japanese tomb mainly built in the Asuka Jidai (7th to early 8th centuries). Kitora Kofun　was built in 7th century in the Asuka village. The four side walls of Kitora were painted with　four imaginary animals of the oriental mythology; Genbu (The Black Tortoise)　in the North, Byakko (The White Tiger) in the West, Seiryu (The Blue Dragon) in the East, and Suzaku (The Red Bird) in the South wall.

Suzaku, the Red Bird of the South

（National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara）

The ceiling of Kitora was painted with remarkably detailed stars and Sei Syuku (the moon stations). The Kitora astronomical star chart includes an inner circle, in which no star set bellow the horizon, the celestial equator and the ecliptic, and an outer circle indicating the horizon of observers.

The Big Dipper. It is interesting that Mizar was recognized as a double-star. （National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara）

The sun was painted at the east edge of ceiling near Seiryu, while the moon was at the west edge near Byakko . All together, the Kitara ceiling paint would be the oldest reliable star chart.

A sketch of the star chart on the Kitra ceiling. Recognized constellationｎ (Sei Syuku) are given with the old oriental names.