- Koguryo and Balhae
- Tokhung-ri Tomb
Koguryo and Balhae
| Title | Heavenly Horse | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Heavenly Horse on the ceiling of the antechamber (northern wall)
This is a detailed view of Bakui on the ceiling of the antechamber (northern wall) in Tokhung-ri Tomb. Eighteen auspicious animals are depicted on the ceiling of the antechamber in Tokhung-ri Tomb. The Heavenly Horse, Jichuk, Cheonjak, Byeokdok, Bakui, Hajo, Yeongyang, Huewon, and an unidentified auspicious animal appear on the northern wall.
The Heavenly Horse is an auspicious animal that appears in Shanhaijing or the Classics of Mountains and Seas as a guardian of the northern cardinal point. Naturally, the Heavenly Horse is depicted in the northern direction in Tokhung-ri Tomb. Although the Heavenly Horse mostly resembles a regular horse, the spotted torso and wing-like tail are indicative of its divine nature. The inscription next to the Heavenly Horse clearly reads “Depiction of the Heavenly Horse.”