Northeast Asian History Network

Southern Wall of the Western Auxiliary Chamber - Portrait of the Deceased (Female)

This is the noblewoman's portrait of the deceased depicted on the southern wall of the western auxiliary chamber in Anak Tomb No. 3. She is sitting at an angle, facing her husband’s portrait of the deceased on the adjacent wall. The voluptuous noblewoman is dressed in extremely fancy and colorful attire. Much like the nobleman's portrait, the Lady is sitting underneath an extravagant silk pavilion on a wooden platform. The only major difference is that there is no folding screen in this mural. Although Buddhism was not an officially recognized religion during the time of the noble couple, the lotus decorations on the pavilion indirectly convey the proliferation of Buddhism in Koguryo. Buddhism was officially recognized in Koguryo approximately fifteen years after the death of the entombed.
The raised and looped hairstyles of the maids in the murals are nearly identical to that of the noblewoman. Unlike the maids, however, the noblewoman's hairstyle features two prominent locks of hair that hang freely from the loops. Notably, the woman carrying an incense burner to the right of the noblewoman has an unusually complex hairstyle. The woman is portrayed to be rather charming but not very dignified. The image conveys the notion that Koguryo-era women were equally interested in fashionable hairstyles regardless of social status.