Northeast Asian History Network

Eastern Wall of the Eastern Auxiliary Chamber - Kitchen - Dogs

Title

Eastern Wall of the Eastern Auxiliary Chamber - Kitchen - Dogs

Eastern Wall of the Eastern Auxiliary Chamber - Kitchen

This is a detailed view of the kitchen scene depicted on the eastern wall of the eastern auxiliary chamber. Three women, who appear to be maids, can be seen carrying out their duties. The most notable figure in the scene is the maid ardently cooking in front of the steamer. She is inspecting the rice with a spatula in the left hand and holding a rice bowl with the right. The massive size of the steamer is indicative of the size of the family in this residence. A transparent glass bowl is depicted to the left of the wood burning stove. A petite, seemingly young maid can be seen tending to the embers in front of the blazing red furnace, and another maid to the right is handling a pile of lacquered bowls. A lone black bird is sitting atop the tiled roof, and two black dogs are loitering in front of the kitchen. This mural is a valuable resource for understanding how kitchens in affluent households may have been in the Koguryo era.

Northeast Asian History Network

Koguryo and Balhae

Anak Tomb No. 3