When Koguryo ruled East Asia

Koguryo Tombs: Past and Present

105

104

Ⅲ. Evolution of Koguryo Tomb Murals

Koguryo's high cultural standards are reflected in its tombs.

In particular, the stone-mound tombs and tombs with murals

demonstrate Koguryo's high status as a powerful cultural

center, as well as an influential state that commanded vast

territory. However, in the study of the subject, are certain

limitations as the territory that the kingdom used to rule

straddles parts of China and North Korea.

The remains of Koguryo are found all across North

Korea. For this reason, the North Koreans were highly

aware of the fact that Koguryo was one of the most

powerful states in world history. Even before the

government of North Korea appeared, they duly recognized

the importance of proper preservation of the historical sites

and relics. Intensive investigations were conducted on the

Koguryo tombs as well. The Anak Tomb No. 3 found in

Anak, Hwanghae-do Province in 1949 and half a dozen

Koguryo tombs unearthed in the process of building a dam

from 1957 until 1959 along the Dokro-gang and Jaseong-

gang Rivers, both tributaries of the Yalu River, offer

invaluable materials for understanding the evolution of

Koguryo tombs. In addition, since the 1990s, North Korea

has been working on the restoration and preservation of the

major tombs unearthed in and around Pyeongyang. 

1. Tombs of Koguryo

Koguryo tombs appear in various types according to

locations and periods. Among them, the most

representative are the stone-mound tomb and the stone-

chamber tomb covered with earthen-mounds. The mural

tomb belongs to the latter type. 

When making stone-mound tombs, first the body was laid

on the ground, and its top was covered with stone blocks.

They are recognized by the stone mounds rising above the

ground. As building techniques improved, the appearance of

the tombs changed from the no-platform style to the

platform style, then again to the tier style. The stone-mound

tombs are again divided into two kinds: One is the tomb

with a chamber for a single person, and the other is the tomb

with a chamber for a deceased couple. Chronologically

speaking, the former was followed by the latter.

As to the stone-chamber tomb covered with an earthen-

mound, a stone chamber was made on the ground or half

underground and was covered with soil. Generally, a married

couple was buried together. In terms of the materials for the

mounds, this type of tomb differs from the stone-mound

type, which was indigenous to Koguryo. However, as to the

structure of the burial part, the two types are similar, and

they are both found within the same groups of tombs.

The “mural tombs” refer to the tombs with decorative

paintings inside the burial chamber(s). There are cases in

Jian, China where the murals are found in stone-mound

tombs. Yet, those found in North Korea are all stone-

chamber tombs covered with earthen-mounds. The

structure of the mural tombs is complicated. Often, a stone

platform was made around the base of the earthen mound.

Inside the tomb, next to the room for the tomb occupant, an

additional space was made for funeral rituals. When

compared with the tombs without mural paintings, the

mural tombs would cost far more. In this sense, we can

assume that the mural tombs were built for the persons of

high social standings. 

The interior of the tomb chamber was entirely covered

with paintings. They can be divided into two kinds. One is

the painting on the plastered surfaces, and the other is the

painting on the smoothened stone surfaces. The former

show portraits of the deceased, life scenes and imaginary

images of the celestial world. The latter mostly show

depictions of the Four Directional Animals. 

Throughout this final phase, the mural tombs were

mostly built at the foot of mounds and all faced south; they

were situated at the most propitious locations possible, with

a mountain in the back and a wide open field in the front. In

this period, each of the four directional animals occupied

one full wall area of the burial chamber. This phenomenon

explains that at that time, the auspicious animals were

regarded not just as the guardians of the seven-stars in each

of four directions, but as grand cosmic entities that would

safeguard the afterlife. It was based on an admixture of the

beliefs in heavenly beings and Buddhism.

The Gangseo Daemyo and Gangseo Jungmyo are

representative examples of tombs of the third phase in the

Pyeongyang region. They clearly show the changes in the

mural art of this period. Koguryo's mural art now broke

away from the artistic trends it inherited from the Chinese

dynasties in the early 6th century, and fostered its own

tradition. 

In both tombs, the directional animals appear without

any background features. Due to the skillful use of strokes

and lucid colors, these imaginary animals appear as if they

are present in front of the viewer. The murals of the black

warrior in the Gangseo Daemyo and the white tiger in the

Gangseo Jungmyo are particularly successful in creating a

sense of liveliness in the imaginary animals. Additionally,

in these murals, one can see varying depth of the space in

the background and an ambiance in which the wall surfaces

emerge as an eternal space in the heavenly world.

The mural tombs in the Gungnae region of the third

phase convey distinctive characteristics of Koguryo, and

are often described as full of vigor and tension. Also, the

tombs reflect the sumptuous and exquisite culture of the

Gungnae region in the 6th century, as well as the

characteristics of the late Koguryo culture. All the major

characteristics of the Gungnae tombs are seen on the wall

as well as in the murals on the triangular supporting rocks

of the Ohoe Tombs No. 4 and No. 5.

The directional animals on the murals of the tombs are

depicted in refined strokes. Below the animal are sequential

hexagonal patterns, which are filled with honeysuckle

stems/leaves, flames, honeysuckles with the rebirths of

heavenly figures, and heavenly figures atop honeysuckle-

lotus flowers. The bodies of the directional animals are

depicted in minute detail and painted in magnificently lucid

colors. However, the excessively visible outlines, color

strips, and schematic descriptions decrease the aesthetic

quality of the paintings. 

The murals on the triangular supporting rocks in the two

tumuli show the sun, the moon, and constellations. Also,

the gods of civilization, including the gods of the sun, the

moon, the fire, the agriculture, the blacksmith, the wheels,

the whetstone, and heavenly figures holding musical

instruments. The gods of the sun and the moon, holding up

the sun and the moon discs convey the characteristic vigor

and tension in Koguryo art. These characteristics cannot be

found in the tomb murals of the Pyeongyang region, nor in

the contemporary paintings of the Northern and Southern

Dynasties in China.

Apsaras and honeysuckle scrolls in Gangseodaemyo

Ⅳ.Koguryo Tombs: Past and Present

By Kang Hyun-sook (Professor of Ancient Art, Dongguk University)

---

Koguryo Tombs: Past and Present

107

106

Ⅳ. Koguryo Tombs: Past and Present

View of Janggunchong

2. Koguryo Reflected in Tombs

Ancient tombs reflect the society of the time.

Considering the scales of the stone-mound tombs and the

paintings of the mural tombs, it is evident that Koguryo

was not only a politically and militarily powerful state, but

also a kingdom with a highly advanced culture. 

1) Inheritor of Ancient Culture

The stone-mound tombs of the early Koguryo period

located near the mid and lower Yalu River valley inherited

the tradition of stone graves of the prehistoric era. In terms of

the building technique and burial method, the stone-mound

tombs are similar to the stone graves and dolmens in the

Liaodong in China and the prehistoric stone-coffin graves in

Jilin Province in China. Traditionally, the stone graves were

used from the prehistoric times in the northeastern region in

China, including Liaoning and Jilin Provinces. It was when

the Han culture of the Central Plain expanded to this region

that the graves with wooden coffins spread widely. It was not

the case in the Koguryo region, in which we see the

continuation of the stone tombs of the prehistoric era.

The stone-mound tombs were used for joint burials,

which at that time were popular in East Asia. The tomb

consists of a main chamber, a passage way and a vaulted

ceiling, which was designed to make the interior to appear

more spacious. During the time of Koguryo's territorial

expansion, tombs of this type were constructed in various

places within its domain. Balhae, the successor to Koguryo,

also adopted this type for the tombs of the upper class. The

stone-mound tombs were sometimes combined with the

other type of stone-chamber tomb covered with earthen

mound, which were then new. 

The shift from the stone-mound tomb to the stone-

chamber tomb covered with earthen-mound is irrelevant to

the discontinuation of the Koguryo people. It is revealed in

the mausoleum of King Dongmyeong, which was restored

recently. The tomb consists of a chamber-stone-chamber,

an earthen-mound, and a platform. The structure combined

all the available structures at that time, which include that

of the  stone-mound tomb and also that of the stone-

chamber tomb covered with earthen-mound. This tomb is

important in showing that the stone-chamber and earthen-

mound tomb type with a stone platform was built in

Pyeongyang. Moreover, it is significant in showing the

inclusive nature of the Koguryo tombs that embraced

various burial methods practiced in East Asia.      

2) Powerful State with Vast Territory

The tombs in and around the mountain fortresses in

northeast China and the northern part of the Korean

peninsula show the various aspects of life and death of the

Koguryo people. They also show the vast domain of the

kingdom. In particular, the Anak Tomb No. 3 and the

Deokhung-ri Tomb, suggest a possibility that Koguryo's

influence extended from Hwanghae Province to the

northeastern region in China.

The Anak Tomb No. 3 has large-scale murals with

various contents and a unique structure with a corridor. An

ink-written inscription found in the tomb shows that it was

built in the mid-fourth century (357). The tomb was referred

to as “Dongsu Tomb” at the early stage of its excavation,

named after the figure Dongsu that appeared in the

inscription. However, after the continuous examinations of

the identity of the tomb occupant, it was concluded in the

early 1960s that the tomb belonged to a king of Koguryo.

Based on the archeological evidence of Mt. Jangsu fortress

in Sinwon, Hwanghae Province, the tomb occupant was

regarded as King Gogugwon. While it is uncertain whether

the Anak Tomb belonged to the king, the existence of the

large tomb in Hwanghae Province attests that the region was

politically stable under the control of Koguryo. 

As to the Deokheungri Tomb, it consists of two

connected chambers and has an inscription on the wall of

the passageway to the inner chamber, in which the body

was placed. According to the inscription, written in the

18th year of Yeongnak (408) during the reign of King

Gwanggaeto, the occupant of the tomb was Jin, who was

once a magistrate of Yuju. 

3) State with Advanced Culture

Remains and relics found in many parts of the Korean

peninsula confirm that Koguryo was the political and

cultural leader of the three kingdoms. The stone-mound

tombs of Baekje found in the basin of the Han River, the

tombs with murals discovered in the Shilla domain, as well

as the building method of the stone-chamber tombs in

Shilla, all evince the influential culture of Koguryo during

that time. It is also illustrated in the personal ornaments,

horse gears and other burial goods found in the stone-

mound and wooden coffin tombs in the Shilla region.

Koguryo's influence on Japan's funerary culture is well

demonstrated in the tombs with murals. It is often pointed

out that the wall paintings in the Takamatsu Tomb and the

Kitora Tomb in Japan show Koguryo's influence. The

women in long pleated skirts depicted in the murals of the

Takamatsu Tomb are similar to those drawn in the wall

paintings of the Susan-ri and Ssangyeong Tombs. In

addition, the Four Directional Animals shown in the Kitora

Tomb murals are similar to those of the Koguryo tombs.

The influence of Koguryo seen in the tomb murals of Japan

and the Korean peninsula demonstrates Koguryo's prominent

position in this region as a culturally powerful state.

3. The State of the Field and Future

Research

It has been almost a century since the research on the

Koguryo tombs began. Since the investigation of the

Gangseo Daemyo in the 1900s, about 100 tombs with

murals have been inspected. In particular, the structure of

the Taseong-ri Tomb No. 3 that is similar to that of the

Anak Tomb No. 3, and the linear depiction in the murals of

the Geumokri Tomb, which were examined after the 1990s,

serve as good examples of the variety in the tomb structures

and drawing techniques in the Kogoryo tombs. The

increased new data provided a basis for the new

interpretations on the origin and development of the

Koguryo tombs with murals. Furthermore, the contents of

the mural paintings provide important information about

the Koguryo society.

One of the important outcomes of the research concerns

the origins of the mural tombs. Until the 1960s, it was

considered that the tombs were constructed under the

influence of China or the countries to the west of China. The

excavations of the tombs in North Korea's Dongro and

Jaseong Rivers in the 1950s, however, suggested a possibility

that the tombs developed from the indigenous Koguryo

tombs. Moreover, the recent research  showed the transition

from stone-mound tomb to the stone-chamber tomb covered

with earthen-mound. Also, the use of stone for tombs,

decorative patterns, and tombs with the Four Directional

Animals show that the Koguryo tombs with murals were not

mere imitations of their Chinese counterparts.

These new scholarly achievements owe much to the

findings in China. The Jeolcheonjeong Tomb and the

Wusanha Tomb No. 41 both in Jilin Province are stone-

mound tombs with murals. It shows that the Koguryo

people, who used stone-mound tombs, adopted murals.

This resulted in the combination of Koguryo's traditional

tomb system and new tomb type. This understanding

revised the previous view of the appearance of the mural

tombs in Koguryo. It is certain that the cooperation of

North Korea and China will bring a better result in the

study of Koguryo tombs.

The Koguryo tomb murals are not only a repository of

infinite information about Koguryo society, but are also

well-preserved cultural assets in East Asia. It is for this

reason that the move to have the Koguryo tomb murals

registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List began. It is

our responsibility to investigate, conduct research on and

preserve them. 

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List of Koguryo Tombs with Mural Paintings 

Anak Tomb No. 3

Bongseongri Tomb

Yodongseongchong

Taeseongri Tomb No. 1

Pyeongyangyeokjeon Tomb

Dongamri Tomb

Gamshinchong

Dongmyeongwang Tomb

Anak Tomb No. 1

Deokheungri Tomb

Yaksuri Tomb

Taeseongri Tomb

Gajangri Tomb

Yeonhwachong

Daeanri Tomb No. 1

Ssangyongchong

Susanri Tomb

Wusanri Tomb No. 1

Wusanri Tomb No. 2

Wusanri Tomb No. 3

Unnyong-ri Tomb

Gosanri Tomb No. 9

Yonggang Daemyo

Palcheongri Tomb

Boksari Tomb

Bosanri Tomb

Anak Tomb No. 2

Deokhwari Tomb No. 1

Deokhwari Tomb No. 2

Oguk-ri, Anak-gun, 

South Hwanghae Province

Bongseong-ri, Anak-gun, 

South Hwanghae Province

Yongbong-ri, Suncheon-gun,

South Pyeongan Province

Gangseo-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province 

Waeseong Area, Pyeongyang

Dongam-ri, Suncheon, 

South Pyeongan Province

Shinyeong-ri, Oncheon-gun,

South Pyeongan Province 

Yongsan-ri, Yeokpo Area, 

Pyeongyang

Daechu-ri, Anak-gun, 

South Hwanghae Province

Deokheung-ri, Gangseo Area,  

Nampo

Yaksu-ri, Gangseo-area,

Nampo 

Taeseong-ri, Gangseo-gun,

South Pyeongan Province 

Gajang-ri, Jungsan-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

Gangseo-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province  

Daean-ri, Yonggang-gun,

South Pyeongan Province 

Yonggang-gun, Nampo,

Susan-ri, Gangseo Area,  

Nampo

Wusan-ri, Nampo, 

Wusan-ri, Nampo, 

Wusan-ri, Nampo, 

Unnyong-ri, Pyeongwon-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

Gosan-ri, Daeseong Area,

Pyeongyang

Yonggang-gun, Nampo,

Daedong-gun, 

South Hwanghae Province

Anak-gun, 

South Hwanghae Province

Bosan-ri, Daedong-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

Daechu-ri, Anak-gun, 

South Hwanghae Province

Deokhwa-ri, Daedong-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

Deokhwa-ri, Daedong-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

357 CE

Mid 4th century

Mid and late 4th

century

Mid and late 4th 

century

Mid and late 4th 

century

Second half of 4th 

century

Late 4th 

~ early 5th centuries

Late 4th 

~ early 5th centuries

Late 4th 

~ early 5th centuries

408 CE 

Early 5th century

Early 5th century

First half of 5th 

century

Second half of 5th 

century

Second half of 5th 

century

Second half of 5th 

century

Second half of 5th 

century

Second half of 5th 

century

Second half of 5th 

century

Second half of 5th 

century

Second half of 5th 

century

5th century

5th century

5th century

5th century

Late 5th century

Late 5th 

~ early 6th centuries

Late 5th 

~ early 6th centuries

Late 5th

~ early 6th centuries

Cheonwangjisinchong

Gaemachong

Suryeopchong

Honamri Sashin Tomb

Seongchong

Gosanri Tomb No. 1

Jinpari Tomb No. 4

Jinpari Tomb No. 1

Naeri Tomb No. 1

Gangseo Daemyo

Gangseo Jungmyo

Joari Tomb

Seohaeri Tomb

Beopdongri Tomb

Songamri Tomb

Tonggu Tomb No. 12

Moduruchong

Gakjeochong

Muyongchong

Miinchong

Jangcheon Tomb No. 1

Hwanmunchong

Sanyeonhwachong

Samsilchong

Maseongu Tomb No. 1

Gugapchong

Tonggu Sasinchong

Ohoe Tomb No. 5

Ohoe Tomb No. 4 

Bukchang-ri, Eunsan-gun,

South Pyeongan Province

Nosan-ri, Samseok Area,

Pyeongyang

Oncheon-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

Seongmun-ri, Samseok Area,

Pyeongyang

Shinyeong-ri, Oncheon-gun,

South Pyeongan Province

Gosan-ri, Daeseong Area,

Pyeongyang

Yongsan-ri, Yeokpo Area, 

Pyeongyang

Yongsan-ri, Yeokpo Area, 

Pyeongyang

Nosan-ri, Samseok Area, 

Pyeongyang

Sammyo-ri, 

Gangseo Area, Nampo

Sammyo-ri,

Gangseo Area, Nampo

Joa-ri, Jaseong-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

Seohae-ri, Jaseong-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

Beopdong-ri, Jaseong-gun,

South Pyeongan Province

Songam-ri, Jaseong-gun, 

South Pyeongan Province

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Xiajiefangcun,

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

South slope of Yushan, 

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

South slope of Yushan 

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Shanchengzi,

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Xiajiefangcun,

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Yushan,  

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Yushan,  

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Shanchengzi,

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

South slope of Yushan, 

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Dawangcun,

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

Dawangcun,

Ji’an City, Jilin Province

5th ~ 6th centuries

5th ~ 6th centuries

Early 6th century

Early 6th century

First half of 6th

century

First half of 6th

century

6th century

Second half of 6th 

century

Second half of 6th

century

Second half of 6th 

~ first half of 7th

centuries

Second half of 6th 

~ first half of 7th

centuries

Late 4th

~ early 5th centuries

Early 5th century

First half of 5th

century

First half of 5th

century

Mid 5th century

Mid 5th century

Second half of 5th

century

Second half of 5th

century

5th century

5th century

Late 5th 

~ early 6th centuries

Second half of 6th 

century

Second half of 6th 

century

Late 6th 

~ early 7th centuries

Name

Location

Presumptive Age

Name

Location

Presumptive Age

Pyeongyang and Anak Areas

Ji’an Area