Northeast Asian History Network

Western Wall of the Western Auxiliary Chamber - Portrait of the Deceased - Munhabae

This is a detailed view of the official standing at the far right in the portrait of the deceased in the western auxiliary chamber. An inscription to his right reads "Munhabae" in red ink. This inscription is indicative of his official position. Although Munhabae does not appear in any Chinese historical records, his role can be estimated by his distinctive characteristics. Because this figure is depicted to be much smaller than the Gisil (clerk) and Seongsa (secretary), a Munhabae is surmised to be of a much lower rank than the other figures. He can be seen holding wooden tablets in his hands, and thus, the Munhabae is estimated to be an assistant to the Seongsa depicted next to the nobleman.
The Munhabae's overall appearance is nearly identical to the other figures in facial features and attire. Although the overall level of artistry may have been fairly advanced for the time, it's apparent that representations of a person's unique facial features were relatively less polished.