The meaning of Goguryeo’s mural funerary iconography and its relation to the paintings of the Han Dynasty and the Six Dynasties period

Keywords: religious iconography, portraits, processions, World of Immortals, Four Gods, immortality

Abstract

The present paper aims to explain the religious significance of the tomb murals of the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BC – 668 AD). For this purpose, the main categories and typologies of these images will be identified and separated. Since the iconography of this Korean kingdom bears a strong relationship to the religious images of the Chinese tombs of the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and the Six Dynasties period (220 – 589 AD), they will be referred to when necessary, as they help to understand the function of the Goguryeo murals.

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Published
2025-09-22
How to Cite
Cadahía Veira, P. (2025). The meaning of Goguryeo’s mural funerary iconography and its relation to the paintings of the Han Dynasty and the Six Dynasties period. Estudios Complutenses de Asia Oriental, 1(2), e102881. https://doi.org/10.5209/ecao.102881
Section
Cultura coreana