Northeast Asian History Network

Southern Wall of the Antechamber (Eastern Section)

This is a view of the four axmen facing toward the tomb entrance depicted in the corner of the southern wall in the antechamber. All figures are wearing military attaché Chaeks (Headwear worn by civil servants and military attachés. Civil servants wore Chaeks with tops that were split in the back and curving forward. Military attachés wore Chaeks with cone-shaped points.), red Jeogoris (traditional Korean upper garment), and white form-fitting trousers known as Gung-gos. As the necklines, sleeves, and hemlines of Durumagis are prone to wear, these robes were reinforced with fabric of differing color in each of these areas, thereby enhancing practicality and decoration. This distinctive feature on garments is known as a Seon. Gung-gos were primarily worn by the lower-class and often by military attachés for their comfort and high degree of mobility.
Axes have been used to symbolize the king's authority since ancient times. This fact is credited to the ancient logogram representing an axe strongly resembling the Chinese character for king (王). Of course, axes were weapons of war and continued to be used throughout the Koguryo era. The use of axes as weapons has been well-documented in the Samguk sagi or the History of the Three Kingdoms. Records state that General Nul-Choi of Silla was killed by an axe during a battle against Baekje. This historical fact indicates that the axe had been used as a weapon of war not only in Koguryo but in other kingdoms of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Just as with the axmen depicted on the eastern wall of the antechamber, these figures strongly convey the characteristics of the honor guard procession. As the tomb correlates to the living space of the entombed, the presence of axmen solidifies the high status and authority of the deceased.