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Goguryeo (ancient Korea) couple, mid-5th century

 Goguryeo’s clothing can be seen in their tomb murals. Goguryeo people wore geometric patterns on their garments, such as polka dots. The diamond pattern in this drawing is based on the murals in Jangcheon Tomb No. 2 (장천 2호분). The woman’s robe and man’s trousers have a diamond design. The golden earrings are based on those excavated on Jungdo Island, Chuncheon. The man is wearing a peculiar headgear known as gakgwan (각관), which can be seen in various Goguryeo murals.

 The dancheong (단청, decorative coloring on wooden buildings) are based on the murals of Tonggou Tomb No. 12 (통구 12호분), Hwanmunchong Tomb (환문총), and Anak Tomb No.2 (안악 2호분). On the base of red, vine and lotus patterns are drawn with a darker color. The curtain hanging from the ceiling is a typical motif in Goguryeo tomb murals, reflecting the widespread use of curtains indoors in East Asia at the time. The pattern of the curtain is based on the clothing of the Goguryeo ambassador from Portraits of Periodical Offering of the Tang Dynasty (唐閻立本王會圖).

Sources

Dongamni Tomb, late 4th century

Muyongchong Tomb, early 5th century

Anak Tomb No. 2, late 5th~early 6th century

Jangcheon Tomb No. 2, mid~late 5th century

Tonggou Tomb No. 12, late 4th~early 5th century

Hwanmunchong Tomb, late 5th century

Goguryeo gold earring, National Museum of Korea, 5th~6th century

Goguryeo earring excavated in Jung-do, Chuncheon, 6th century

National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, “Celestial Motifs: Ancient Tomb Murals of the Goguryeo Dynasty”, 2020

Encyclopedia of Korean Culture