Goguryeo Kingdom
The Goguryeo Kingdom was one of what is collectively known as the Three Kingdoms – that is Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. These three ancient kingdoms competed against each other for leadership of the Korean peninsula. Goguryeo occupied a vast geographical area covering the northern Korean peninsula and parts of southern Manchuria and is known to have had strong links with foreigners. It was founded in the third century BCE and had a number of capitals throughout the course of its history. The first capital was Jolbon, which lasted for around 40 years before being relocated to Gungnae, which remained the capital for over 400 years - both of these locations being in present day China. Goguryeo’s final move was in 427 BCE when Pyongyang in present day North Korea became the capital. This move allowed Goguryeo to strengthen its presence in the Korean peninsula. Buddhism was officially adopted in 372 BCE, making Goguryeo the first of the Three Kingdoms to adopt it, although little evidence exists of Buddhist practices at this time. As Goguryeo territory is located in present day China and North Korea, it is difficult to access relevant materials to undertake research, but between 2018 and 2020 the Research Division of Artistic Heritage (part of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage) undertook research relating to Goguryeo tomb murals. Their output is a huge 300+ page publication which describes Goguryeo beliefs in death and the style of tombs used during this period as well as providing images and descriptions of some of the beautiful tomb paintings of the period based around representations of the celestial world, life after death and the human world. Goguryeo fell in 668 CE following its defeat at the hands of soldiers following a Silla/Tang Dynasty alliance.
References/Further Reading
Kim, Y. (2016) Balancing Research on Ancient Korean Cultures. National Museum of Korea Quarterly Magazine. Volume 35, Spring. Pages 32-37.
Lim, Felix (2014) Jumong: founder of Goguryeo Kingdom is man of legend, history. Korea.net. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
McBridge, R. (2014) Imagining Ritual and Cultic Practice in Koguryŏ Buddhism. International Journal of Korean History 19 (2). Pages 169-211. https://doi.org/10.22372/ijkh.2014.19.2.169.
Park, K. (2004) History of Koguryo and China’s Northeast Asian Project. International Journal of Korean History. Volume 6. Pages 1-28.
National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (2020) Celestial Motifs: Ancient Tomb Murals of the Goguryeo Dynasty. Daejeon. NRICH.