The Asuka area is located in Nara prefecture, and there are a lot of ancient burial mounds. One of them, the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus , are famous for its female mural paintings. Now restoration work is open to the public.
Then, in the 20th century, another tumulus were discovered with mural paintings on the north, south, west, and east walls and ceiling. This is the Kitora Tumulus.
On each of the four walls, there are murals of fictitious creatures called Suzaku: Vermilion Bird, Seiryu: Azure Dragon, Byakko: White Tiger, and Genbu: Black Tortoise. Genbu is mixed creature with tortoise and snake . They are also the four chinese God.
Adding, there are strangely shaped stones in Asuka, and Tortoise Stone are one of these strange things. We don’t know who made it for what.
