Koguryo Mural Paintings

Pyongyang, April 30 (KCNA) -- Mural paintings in the tombs of Koguryo Kingdom (B.C. 277-A.D. 668) are well known over the world as the cream of ancient mural art. Over 100 mural tombs have been unearthed up to now. Painted on the walls and ceilings inside those Koguryo tombs are pictures showing the life of power holders and depicting heavenly bodies like the sun and the moon, cloud, religious images, patterns and others. Mural paintings are divided into figure and genre paintings, paintings of four guardians and decorative patterns, according to their themes. Typical of murals with the theme of figure and genre are those in the mausoleum of Kogukwon (331-371), the 21st king of Koguryo. 60-odd Koguryo mural tombs were added to the list of world's cultural heritages in July Juche 93 (2004). -0-