Northeast Asian History Network

The Second Stone Prop of the Southern Wall (Detailed view of the immortal on the southern wall)

This is a detailed view of an immortal depicted on the second stone prop of the southern wall in the Great Tomb of Gangseo. General characteristics of traditional immortal iconography include the following: ① Reliance on external modes of transportation such as dragons or cranes. ② Riding on clouds. ③ Sprouting wings. ④ Wearing Winged Clothes. ⑤ Long ears. ⑥ Wearing pointed shoes.
The immortals in the image are dressed in Winged Clothes (clothing worn by immortals with the ends of the hems split like bird wings), coinciding with ④ in the list of traditional immortal iconography. The upper garment features wings similar to Heavenly Clothes, and the split legs of the white pants are reminiscent of bird wings. The feet are bare; however, the position of the arms is unclear. The immortal is depicted with bent legs as if leaping effortlessly through the air. The wing-like train and waistbands on the upper garment are flapping like long ribbons in the wind. The image portrays the immortal as being unconstrained by any forces in the common world.