A Study of Gangseodaemyo Tomb Murals of Koguryo

The Gangseodaemyo Tomb murals of Koguryo, dating to late 6th century, represent a significant advancement in Koguryo tomb art. These murals depict mythical creatures—such as the phoenix, blue dragon, white tiger, and xuanwu—alongside Buddhist and Taoist motifs, reflecting a synthesis of artistic traditions influenced by Chinese Southern and Northern Dynasties styles. The murals' innovative techniques, including spatial composition and symbolic representation, convey themes of cosmic order and spiritual transcendence. This study highlights the tomb's wall paintings as a testament to Koguryo's stable society during this period, where artists integrated traditional motifs with new stylistic experiments, achieving balanced and harmonious visual effects.

Jeon, H.-t. (2021). A Study of Gangseodaemyo Tomb Murals of Koguryo. The Journal of Korean Ancient History, 104, 131–160. https://doi.org/10.37331/jkah.2021.12.104.131