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Cover. The Painting of Figures on the Southern Wall at the Entrance to the Burial Chamber of the Susan-ri Mural Tomb

This is the mural painting on the southern wall of the burial chamber of the mural tomb located in Susan-ri Gangseo-gun, South Pyeongan Province in North Korea. It is painted on the wall at the entrance of the burial chamber located at the end of the passage from the entrance of the tomb.

The three figures featured on the mural are wearing a black chaek (a special hat for ceremonies) and a yellow robe. And the two figures on either end are holding a sangae (a sunshade, a kind of parasol) in their neatly folded hands. The yellow pyesul draped over the chest (i.e. the Front Cloth Panel of an official dress or uniform that is worn over the chest and draped all the way down to the knees) indicates that they are dressed up for a formal occasion. They are supposedly in charge of protocol for the tomb master's outings or reception of visitors to the tomb.

The patterns of lotus specially painted on the pillars or of the auspicious clouds around the figures seem to suggest as though this were a passage to heaven or paradise. Did the people of Koguryo have the belief that death was not the end but the rite of passage to eternal afterlife, and that someone kind would guide our way?