Complex of Goguryeo Tombs
Encyclopedia
The Complex of Goguryeo Tombs (Complex of Koguryo Tombs) lie in North Korea
. In July 2004, they became the first UNESCO
World Heritage site in the country. The site consists of 30 individual tombs from the later Goguryeo
kingdom, one of Three Kingdoms of Korea
, located in the cities of P'yŏngyang
and Namp'o
. Goguryeo was one of the strongest Korean kingdoms in the north east of China and the Korean Peninsula
from 37 BCE to the 7th century CE. The kingdom was founded in the present day area of Northern Korea, and part of Manchuria around 37 BCE, and the capital was transferred to P'yŏngyang in 427 CE.
Many of the tombs, such as the Anak Tomb No. 3
, have wall paintings. The tombs are almost all that remains from this culture
. There are over 10,000 Goguryeo tombs overall, but only about 90 of those unearthed in China and Korea have wall paintings. The Complex of Goguryeo Tombs inscribed on the World Heritage List contains the majority of these tombs with wall paintings. It is thought that the complex was used as a burial site for kings, queens and other members of the royal family. The paintings found on the tombs offer a unique insight into the everyday life of the Goguryeo period.
The murals are strongly coloured and show daily life and Korea
n mythologies of the time. By 2005, 70 murals had been found, mostly in the Taedong river basin near Pyongyang
, the Anak area in South Hwanghae
province, and in Ji'an
in China's Jilin
province.
The following criteria were considered by UNESCO to merit the Goguryeo tombs' inscription as a World Heritage site:
In May 2006, 2,360 individual tombs were discovered at the site of the ancient Goguryeo kingdom during work on the Yunfeng Reservoir. Ruins of an ancient city were discovered as well. Among the ruins was a city wall that was 1.5 meters tall and four meters wide. Evidence also suggested the presence of a moat. A dozen tombs were found within the city.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. In July 2004, they became the first UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage site in the country. The site consists of 30 individual tombs from the later Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
kingdom, one of Three Kingdoms of Korea
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
, located in the cities of P'yŏngyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
and Namp'o
Nampo
Namp'o is a city and seaport in South P'yŏngan Province, North Korea. It was a provincial-level Directly Governed City from 1980 to 2004, when it was designated a "Special City" and made a part of South P'yŏngan...
. Goguryeo was one of the strongest Korean kingdoms in the north east of China and the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
from 37 BCE to the 7th century CE. The kingdom was founded in the present day area of Northern Korea, and part of Manchuria around 37 BCE, and the capital was transferred to P'yŏngyang in 427 CE.
Many of the tombs, such as the Anak Tomb No. 3
Anak Tomb No.3
Anak Tomb No. 3 is a chamber tomb of Goguryeo located in Anak, North Korea. It is known for mural paintings and an epitaph. It is part of the Complex of Goguryeo Tombs....
, have wall paintings. The tombs are almost all that remains from this culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
. There are over 10,000 Goguryeo tombs overall, but only about 90 of those unearthed in China and Korea have wall paintings. The Complex of Goguryeo Tombs inscribed on the World Heritage List contains the majority of these tombs with wall paintings. It is thought that the complex was used as a burial site for kings, queens and other members of the royal family. The paintings found on the tombs offer a unique insight into the everyday life of the Goguryeo period.
The murals are strongly coloured and show daily life and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n mythologies of the time. By 2005, 70 murals had been found, mostly in the Taedong river basin near Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, the Anak area in South Hwanghae
Hwanghae
Hwanghae was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hwanghae was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was Haeju.The regional name for the province was Haesŏ .-History:...
province, and in Ji'an
Ji'an, Jilin
Ji'an is a county-level city in southwestern Jilin province, Northeast China. It belongs to the prefecture-level city of Tonghua. Ji'an has an area of and a population of approximately 230,000. The city was established as a city in 1988....
in China's Jilin
Jilin
Jilin , is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. Jilin borders North Korea and Russia to the east, Heilongjiang to the north, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west...
province.
The following criteria were considered by UNESCO to merit the Goguryeo tombs' inscription as a World Heritage site:
- The wall paintings are masterpieces of the Goguryeo period. The tombs themselves reflect ingenious engineering capabilities.
- The customs of the Goguryeo culture were influential all over East Asia, including Japan.
- The site offers exceptional insights into the Goguryeo culture, both into everyday life and burial customs.
- The Goguryeo tombs are an important example of this burial typology.
In May 2006, 2,360 individual tombs were discovered at the site of the ancient Goguryeo kingdom during work on the Yunfeng Reservoir. Ruins of an ancient city were discovered as well. Among the ruins was a city wall that was 1.5 meters tall and four meters wide. Evidence also suggested the presence of a moat. A dozen tombs were found within the city.
See also
- Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo KingdomCapital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo KingdomCapital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom is a World Heritage Site located in the People's Republic of China. The designated area of the site is located in and around Ji'an, Jilin...
, UNESCO world heritage site in Goguryeo's Chinese half - Ancient Tombs at Longtou MountainAncient Tombs at Longtou MountainThe Ancient Tombs at Longtou Mountain are a collection of twelve burials for royalty of the Balhae Kingdom. It is located on the Longtou Mountain, southeast Toudao Township , Helong County , Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin, China...
with Mausoleum of Princess JeonghyoMausoleum of Princess ZhenxiaoThe Mausoleum of Princess Jeonghyo was made in 793 by the people of early Korea's Balhae kingdom, and is a part of the Ancient Tombs at Longtou Mountain in Jilin, China...
of BalhaeBalhaeBalhae was a Manchurian kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-yeong, a Mohe general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin , later called Balhae.Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria and...
, the kingdom that succeeded Goguryeo. - Korean artKorean artKorean art is art originating or practiced in Korea or by Korean artists, from ancient times to today. Korea is noted for its artistic traditions in pottery, music, calligraphy, and other genres, often marked by the use of bold color, natural forms, and surface decoration.-Introduction:The earliest...
- Korean paintingKorean paintingKorean painting includes paintings made in Korea or by overseas Koreans on all surfaces. It includes art as old as the petroglyphs through post-modern conceptual art using transient forms of light...
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- List of Korea-related topics
External links
- UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
(2005). Preservation of the Koguryo Kingdom Tombs (PDF) - Complex of Koguryo Tombs, UNESCO World Heritage
- Northeast Asia's intra-mural mural wars, 6th century Korean murals
- ROK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Goguryeo controversies