고구려 고분 벽화에 나타난 日象文연구

Abstract

This study aimed to review and propose chronological recording of Koguryo tomb murals, to classify types of solar patterns and to examine characteristics of the styles of solar patterns and transitions in world view per period by looking at the mural paintings in 17 Koguryo tomb murals of which morphological identification of solar patterns was possible. For reviewing and proposing the chronological recording of Koguryo tumb murals, I examined the existing chronicles by considering written data and structures of the burial chambers, etc., then proposed the chronological recording of tomb murals with consideration given to transitions in the contents of mural paintings, etc. In the mean time, classification of the types of solar patterns was based on circles as well as motions and existence of auspicious birds inside the circles, etc., which hold symbolic significance as the important components of solar patterns. In addition, I considered the relevance to solar patterns developed after the period of the Three States. As a result, I derived classification of solar patterns into 4 types, such as Type I (auspicious birds standing in a circle with wings folded), Type II (auspicious birds standing in a circle with wings spread in a semicircle), Type III (auspicious birds standing about to fly off form a circle with spread wings) and Type IV (solar patterns consisting of circles) In addition, I examined characteristics of the styles of solar patterns and transitions in world view for two periods, such as from the early 5th century to the early 6th century and from the mid 6th century to the early 7th century, by reflecting characteristics displayed in the plan of chronological recording and classification of the types of solar patterns proposed by myself as well as the political circumstances of Goguryeo, etc. The majority of the solar patterns from the early 5th century to the early 6th century was of Type 1 (auspicious birds standing in a circle with wings folded). Regarding the auspicious birds inside solar patterns to be the messengers of Heaven’s will, I construed that the image of auspicious birds standing with the wings folded symbolized the period of political stability in Koguryo during which the Heaven’s will stayed at a single place without shifting away. As if supporting this view, the period from the early 5th century to the early 6th century was the time when Koguryo enjoyed the greatest prosperity to hold sway of the areas around Northeast Asia. Under the circumstances, the people of Koguryo formed an autonomous world view centering on their own country. The fact that the 5th century epigraph in the Monument of Gwanggaeto the Great and the Tomb of Moduru described the highest ruler of Koguryo as the‘ Son of the High Heaven’or the ‘Son of the Sun and the Moon’reflects the independent and autonomous world view of the people of Koguryo. For the period from the mid 6th century to the early 7th century, a majority of the solar patterns is of the Type II (auspicious birds standing in a circle with wings spread in a semicircle). As aforementioned, auspicious birds inside solar patterns were regarded as the messengers of the Heaven’s will. Therefore, the image of auspicious birds standing with the wings spread in a semicircle was construed to symbolize the stage where Heaven’s will was about to shift away or just before it was settling to stay - in other words, the period of a slight political instability. To back this up, Koguryo internally faced political and social chaos during the mid 6th century ∼ early 7th century as a result of the development of coalition politics by the nobility and decentralization of power. Externally, Shilla expanded to hold control the areas near Han River and the unified dynasties, such as Su and Tang, began to establish themselves in China to restructure the international orders during the period. While Su and Tang dynasties exercised pressure on the surrounding nations in order to restructure the international orders centering on China, Koguryo did not succumb to this and kept its autonomy by resolutely confronting the Chinese dynasties, etc. However, through these processes, the world view of Goguryeo slowly headed in the direction to fall down.