고구려 천왕지신총 연구

Abstract

Cheonwangjisinchong Tomb of Suncheon, Pyeongannam-do, is a unique site where the tomb mimics a wooden house with crossbeams, frames, and stands appear with the paintings blending into the structure. That the casket chamber is decorated with lotus grid motifs on top of which is depicted a slice of life scene of the deceased also sets it apart from other tomb murals north and south of Koguryo. On the corners of the ceilings are painted cheonwang (heavenly king 天王), jisin (earthly deity 地神), auspicious animals (祥禽瑞獸), and immortals (仙人). They are placed in the eight spaces between the 人 shaped frame. The motifs suggest that while the deceased seems to hope for a Buddhist paradise, its actual details resemble more of the land of the immortals. In closer distance to Pyeongyang, Suncheon is on the road that connects Guknaeseong, Koguryo’s old capital, and Pyeongyang. Yodongseongchong Tomb, another tomb found in Suncheon, structurally resemble mural tombs of Wei and Jin. It is an inheritor of the tradition that includes Taeseong-ri Tomb No. 3 of Pyeongyang area and Anak Tomb No. 3 of Anak. Likewise, Cheonwangjisinchong Tomb structurally and thematically stands in between the traditions of northern Guknaeseong and southern Pyeongyang. In other words, Cheonwangjisinchong Tomb suggests that Guknaeseong culture and Pyeongyang culture mingled and fused right in Suncheon. The lotus grid motifs that adorn the casket room of Cheonwangjisinchong Tomb is part of a northern tradition from Guknaeseong area where such lotus motifs were popular. Cheonwangjisinchong Tomb shows that such painting tradition may have went through Suncheon down south to Pyeongyang. On the other hand, the auspicious animals and the immortal motifs seen in Anak Tomb No. 1 and Deokheung-ri Mural Tomb traveled through Suncheon up north to Guknaeseong. The systematically placed motifs of cheonwang, Jisin, auspicious animals, and immortal on the ceiling corners of Cheonwangjisinchong Tomb shows such cultural transmission in progress. Cheonwangjisinchong Tomb shows that Suncheon served as a bridge between the distinct cultures of north and south Koguryo.