The Motobu Udun Tomb is a turtleback tomb located in Ganeko in today's Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The tomb belongs to the House of Motobu whose origin is Prince Motobu Chōhei, the 6th son of the 10th King Shō Shitsu (1629–1668) of the Second Royal Shō Dynasty of Ryūkyū.
Full side view of the Motobu Udun Tomb
The inner yard of the Motobu Udun Tomb
Outer yard of the Motobu Udun Tomb, stairs leading up to the inner yard.
Information board placed at the Motobu Udun Tomb
Turtleback or Turtle-back tombs or turtle shell tombs are a particular type of tombs originating from the Song Dynasty. They are commonly found in some coastal provinces of southern China, the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and in Vietnam. They can also be found in countries with overseas Chinese populations like Malaysia.
A typical turtle-back tomb, in Lingshan Islamic Cemetery, Quanzhou
A typical turtle-back tomb in Kinmen Island off Fujian coast
A typical 15th-century bixi, near the tomb of Kong Hongtai, 61st-generation Duke Yansheng, in the Cemetery of Confucius, Qufu. In this traditional layout, the bixi is at the beginning of the spirit way, and the grave tumulus, at the end of it.
Tomb of Mạc Cửu in Hà Tiên, Vietnam.
