Northeast Asian History Network

Depiction of Sungsung on the ceiling of the antechamber (southern wall)

This is a detailed view of Gili on the ceiling of the antechamber (southern wall) in Tokhung-ri Tomb. Eighteen auspicious animals are depicted on the ceiling of the antechamber in Tokhung-ri Tomb. Bugui, Gili, and Sungsung (orangutan) appear on the southern wall.
According to Shanhaijing or the Classics of Mountains and Seas and SeasSungsung is an orangutan with the face of a human. Sungsung, as seen in the image, bears the face of a human and is consistent with the descriptions in ancient literature. The inscription next to Sungsung clearly reads “Depiction of Sungsung.”
Sungsung does not seem to symbolize prosperity. However, descriptions in ancient literature claim that eating Sungsung allows one to excel at running. According to descriptions from the “chapter of Southern Mountains” and “chapter of Southern Seas” from Shanhaijing or the Classics of Mountains and Seas Sungsung is sometimes interpreted to be a guardian of the southern cardinal point.