noun
burial mound with a square base and a round top
Technical term in Japanese archaeology; refers to a specific type of ancient tomb (kofun) shape.
上円下方墳は、古墳時代の終わりごろに現れた墓の形です。
The jōen kahōfun is a tomb shape that appeared toward the end of the Kofun period.
前方後円墳 is the more common keyhole-shaped tomb with a square front and round back, while 上円下方墳 has a square base and a round top, resembling a different architectural style.
Compound of 上円 (jōen, 'round top') + 下方 (kahō, 'square bottom') + 墳 (fun, 'tumulus, burial mound'). The term describes the shape of this type of ancient tomb.