history

The Mausoleum of King Kogugwon situated in Anak County of South Hwanghae Province is the tomb of the 21st monarch of Koguryo (the first feudal state of Korea that existed from 277 BC to AD 668). It is also known as Anak Tomb No. 3.

The size of the tomb is about 33 metres from north to south, about 30 metres from east to west and some 6 metres in height.

The large mound is situated on a mountain and the tomb blends into it to assume a magnificent appearance.

The chamber was built with stones half underground and consists of door compartment, front compartment, two side compartments in the east and the west of the front compartment, inner compartment and a corridor. 

The mural paintings were drawn directly on the stone wall.

A picture of a royal guard is seen in the door compartment and those of an honour guard, Subakhui (a Korean style of martial art using only the hands) and music and dance performance in the front compartment.

The mural in the corridor shows an imposing and majestic procession of the king escorted by numerous civil and military officials and a band of musicians.

A manifestation of the advanced painting techniques of that time, the mural is rated as the greatest masterpiece among the Korean tomb murals in view of the number of characters depicted, over 250 persons, the size of the scene and the complex and diverse content.

The Mausoleum of King Kogugwon is under good preservation as a precious cultural heritage element of the country, which vividly shows the history, customs, architecture, painting, music, dance and weapons and equipment of Koguryo through the structure and mural contents of the tomb chamber.