Mural Tomb in Sunheung, Yeongju

This tomb is located on the slope of a hill extending southwest from the summit of Bibongsan Mountain (431m). Round in shape, it is a stone chamber tomb with a horizontal entrance passage, consisting of a burial chamber (neolbang, also called hyeonsil) and a corridor (neolgil, also called yeondo) linking the chamber to the entrance. The burial chamber is rectangular, measuring about 3.5m east–west, 2m north–south and 2m in height. The walls narrow towards the ceiling, which is covered by two stone slabs laid side by side. Coloured paintings cover every wall except the ceiling. On the east wall is a painting of a bird's head; on the south wall, a human figure and an inscription; on the north wall, three mountains, a lotus flower and cloud patterns; and on the west wall, trees and a house together with a strongman (yeoksa), presumed to be a guardian figure. The east and west walls of the corridor are also painted: the west wall shows a man holding a snake coiled around his hand, and the east wall shows a powerful man with wide, glaring eyes. These figures are interpreted as having been painted to protect the body laid in the tomb. The paintings in this tomb are of great importance for understanding not only Three Kingdoms-period painting but also contemporary views of religion and the afterlife, as well as cultural exchange with Goguryeo.

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Where it is

Region

Yeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Historic Site · 사적