There is a mural tomb at the foot of a hill in Yaksu-ri, Kangso District, Nampho Municipality.
The tomb dating from the period of Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668) has a chamber that consists of an inner passage, front chamber, inner chamber and corridor.
The inner passage is 1.4m long, 1.1m wide and 1.48m high, the front chamber is 2.66m long from north to south, 2.84m wide from east to west and 3.22m high, and the inner chamber is 3.42m long from north to south, 3.12m wide from east to west and 3.5m high.
There is a bier and a rectangular altar in the chamber.
Murals were painted on all the walls and the ceilings of the front and inner chambers, except for a triangular supporting part.
Rough sketches were drawn and painted to create murals.
Most of the murals depict figures, customs and manners, plus four guardians of imaginary animals defending the north, south, east and west.
The murals in the inner chamber portray the indoor life of the couple buried there and the four guardians.
What stands out in the murals is the pictures showing a magnificent procession of a nobleman of Koguryo, a large-scale hunting, as well as a stable, kitchen, watermill, gate-keeping warriors and cowshed.
The northern wall of the front chamber has a picture of a fort showcasing the contemporary fort system and architectural style. The scene of hunting shows some people going hunting while beating drums and blowing horns, and shooting games.
According to old records, a large-scale hunting contest took place in spring and autumn in Koguryo. In this regard, the mural seems to be about the springtime hunting contest.
The mural tomb is a precious cultural heritage item as its peculiar chamber structure and diverse and rich contents of murals give a glimpse of the might of the powerful Koguryo.
Kim Hyon
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