Facts About The Capital Cities And Tombs Of The Ancient Koguryo Kingdom

Sridevi Tolety
Jan 17, 2023 By Sridevi Tolety
Originally Published on Apr 05, 2022
Edited by Kelly Quinn
Fact-checked by Tanmay Tiwari
King Jangsu's Tomb in Koguryo Kingdom

The leader of the Koguryo was Chu-mong.

The language spoken by the Koguryo people was Koguryoan, and this kingdom was famous for its artistic skills and cultural relics. The Koguryo Kingdom came to be known from the environmental thesis of the 'Book Of Han.

The Koguryo people were first located in inner Mongolia or western Liaoxi and later voyaged eastward. The early Koguryo tribes were managed by Xuantu, and tribes were recognized by the Han.

The Koguryo is also known as Goguryeo. The Koguryo governed Chinese culture, developed in the 5th and 6th centuries, and played an important part in the conflict between the Chinese and Gaya.

After Silla defeated the Koguryo, the kingdom became a part of the Chinese government. The oldest tribe, Yemaek, originally belonged to Goguryeo.

According to Samguk sagi, the Koguryo arose from Northeast China in the second century.

The people of Yemaek and the buyer spoke the same language. The Koguryo Kingdom, ruled from 37 B.C to 668 A.D., was one of the powerful powers of a racial minority in Northeast China and played the main role in the development of Northeast Asia.

The Koguryo Kingdom started in Liaoning province, Huanren County, and then shifted to Ji’an city and Pyongyang. Koguryo and Huanren were the center of the kingdom’s economy, politics, and culture.

Most of the Koguryo frolics are not available here for tourists. A few notable kings of the kingdom include King Sun, King Chang, King UK, King Gon, King Bak, King Jo, King Sak, King Jil, King U, King Sa, King Jun, King Won, and King Hyo.

Discovery And History Of The Kingdom

The Koguryo Kingdom was established in 37 BCE and governed by Linton. The boundaries extended between the Tumen rivers and Yalu. Different ethnic groups of people have created five different dynasties under the control of Gogukcheon. Paekche, Silla, Koguryo were the three kingdoms in which the Koguryo is the largest kingdom.

Legendary sources, archeological evidence, and legends suggest that the Korean peninsula was settled by Tungusic-speaking peoples who migrated from Siberia and Manchuria. These people took a rest along the seaside, moved through the river gully, and formed the Korean language base.

The Korean Kingdom has been divided into tribal areas. In northeast China, the Sungari river forms the basin. Pyongan, Mahan, Samhan, Chinhan were the tribal areas that extend from the southern Korean peninsula to the Sungari basins.

Chu Mong initiated Koguryo, Pak Hyokkose initiated Silla and Paekche by Onjo. The management in Koguryo was known as Pu.

Korea was separated into three kingdoms, the first known as Gojoseon. Through a sequence of political complications, the Han family of China ended up invading and conquering part of Gojoseon around 108 B.C.

It took several unrelated federations that came together for common strength to rebuild the Gojoseon kingdom over the upcoming century. Three federations changed into powerful kingdoms and were established for 600 years.

The Korean Peninsula lasted until the seventh century, and the Silla kingdom allied with China to defeat them. After a war to reject the Chinese, the Korean Peninsula rejoined as a single kingdom in 676 A.D.

Cultural Heritage Of Koguryo

The system of Koguryo Tombs acts as evidence of the Koguryo culture. Its daily life, burial customs, and wall paintings organize the sensation of wall painting art.

The significations of the wall paintings of the tombs suggest extraordinary evidence of the complexity and richness of the vanished Koguryo culture, residential life portraying the residential zones, costumes, burial customs, food, and religious practices linked with Taoism, Buddhism, and the four gods.

The unique burial customs of this literature had an important impact on other races in the region and Japan.

Important examples were found in the fifth century in the Tomb at Gungnae.

They wore jackets and long trousers with ankles, and other tombs had pictures of warriors' animals. The majestic features of Koguryo paintings included many different colors and outlines.

In 2004, UNESCO elected the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom as a World Heritage Site. In line with the members, it is a gem of imagination and wisdom and reflects the impact of the nationality in terms of the same murals.

Even with the retreat of the Koguryo Kingdom, the towns and tombs made of clay and stone, and other materials have been used by later generations. Since the '90s, in Huanren and Jian, Chinese historians have found many mountain cities and tombs of the Koguryo Kingdom.

Archaeological Excavations Of The Kingdom

The site comprises archaeological remains of 40 tombs and three mountain cities. Wandu Mountain City, Guonei City, Wunu Mountain City has 14 tombs and 26 nobles.

The Koguryo culture was named after the dynasty that ruled over the northern half of the Korean Peninsula from 276 B.C. to 668 A.D. and northern China. Wunu Mountain City is situated in Huanren.

In the modern city of Jian, Guonei City took on the role of a champion capital after leading Koguryo capital locomotives made their way to Pyongyang. Wandu Mountain City, the primary capital of the Koguryo, accommodates many signs, 37 tombs, and a large palace.

The tombs can be used to figure out what people think about funerals in modern times, and since the burials in the Kingdom of Koguryo were overblown by many countries, including Japan and modern Korea.

The 63 tombs of the World Heritage Site are in different places, and they are scattered across the city of Pyongyang and other nearby provinces. Archeologists think these tombs were made for high-class peoples and other nobles and royals.

People from South Korean and North Korean cities sometimes collaborate on the Koguryo tombs. Thieves, looters, and others have frequently taken over a few tombs, but only a few were left intact.

In 2018, Korea began allowing more visitors to visit the tombs from different places as part of a plan to increase tourism. The archaeological sites are currently in Northeast China, Huanren, Jilin province, Liaoning province.

In the Chinese language, Koguryo is known as Gaogouli. These archaeological sites were nominated as cultural world heritage sites.

Site Attractions In The Kingdom

The site attractions in the Koguryo Kingdom represent a masterpiece of individual innovation in wall paintings and layouts. The metropolis of the Koguryo Kingdom is an early illustration of modern cities, later followed by nearby cultures.

The important pillar and a long epigraph in the tombs indicate the results of Chinese culture on the Koguryo. The pictures in the tombs show the specific style of artistic skills of other cultures. The outermost modern cities consist of more than 6000 tombs, indicating the evolution of Goguryeo in the architectural sites.

In the Koguryo Kingdom, there were no temples. Some of the considerable archaeological sites from the Koguryo towns are walls and defenses from Pyongyang, Tonggou, Fushun.

Pyongyang was the Koguryo capital, and it featured very big buildings measuring up to 70 x 30 m and mahals with gardens that had manufactured hills and artificial lakes. Properties were garnished with dazzling roof tiles ferrying lotus flower and mask designs found in surplus at the sites.

Moreover, the tombs were set down within pyramids made of stones by the fourth century. Jinpha-ri ,Twin-Column Tomb Anak , Homam-ri Sasin Tomb, Ryonggang Great Tomb, Tokhwa-ri Tombs , Kangso Three, Tokhung-ri Tomb, Yaksu-ri Tomb Susan-ri Tomb are some of the most famous Tombs.

FAQs

Q. Is Goguryeo Korean or Chinese?

A. Goguryeo is Korean.

Q. What was the capital of Koguryo?

A. Wunu Mountain City, Guonei City, and Wandu Mountain City were the capitals of Koguryo.

Q. Where are the Koguryo tombs?

A. The Koguryo tombs are in North Korea.

Q. How many tombs are in Koguryo Tombs?

A. There are a total of 63 Koguryo tombs.

Q. When was Koguryo?

A. Koguryo was between the fifth and sixth centuries.

Q. When did the capital cities and tombs of the ancient Koguryo Kingdom listed on the UNESCO World Heritage site?

A. In 2004, the Koguryo Kingdom was listed on the UNESCO world heritage site.

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Written by Sridevi Tolety

Bachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

Sridevi Tolety picture

Sridevi ToletyBachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

With a Master's degree in clinical research from Manipal University and a PG Diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sridevi has cultivated her passion for writing across various domains. She has authored a wide range of articles, blogs, travelogues, creative content, and short stories that have been published in leading magazines, newspapers, and websites. Sridevi is fluent in four languages and enjoys spending her spare time with loved ones. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking, painting, and listening to music.

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Fact-checked by Tanmay Tiwari

Bachelor specializing in Maths and Science, Master of Arts specializing in Ancient Indian History

Tanmay Tiwari picture

Tanmay TiwariBachelor specializing in Maths and Science, Master of Arts specializing in Ancient Indian History

Tanmay is a highly motivated individual with a passion for personal and professional growth. He possesses a diverse skill set, including writing, photography, marketing, and content creation. Tanmay graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Math and Science from Holkar Science College in Indore and a Master's degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology from St. Xavier's College Mumbai, demonstrating his academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. In addition to his academic achievements, Tanmay is also a talented athlete who enjoys engaging in physical activities such as fencing, aerobics, and martial arts.

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