Newsletter

The ceiling of the Great Tomb of Gangseo

The ceiling of the Great Tomb of Gangseo was created by cross-stacking well-cut triangular granite slabs on top of the four corners of the burial chamber and then placing a square slab at the top to cover the gap. This style of architecture, referred to as 'triangular corbeling,' originated from ancient Mesopotamia and was in fashion in ancient Greece. It provides a valuable glimpse into cultural exchange between Koguryo and the Western Regions at that time.

Compared to the ceiling made of a stone slab installed directly over the burial chamber, the ceiling built with the 'triangular corbeling' method gives a sense of far more depth and volume, and creates a high, open space which gives the feeling of looking up at the round sky. And the space so created was perfect for murals depicting the heaven in the afterlife that the people of Koguryo dreamed about.

The first tier of the stone propping up the ceiling is decorated with honeysuckle Arabesque patterns, the second tier with lotus and auspicious animals or flying fairies, and the triangular stone prop of the third tier with lotus patterns. Finally, the stone cover at the center of the ceiling portrays the Yellow Dragon in a coil, which, together with the Four Spirits (Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Birds, and Black Turtle) in the burial chamber, completes the representation of the Five Elements of Taoism.

In particular, the murals are sophisticated and very elegant, and provide a glimpse into the people of Koguryo's view of fairies and the development of landscape paintings at that time.