Anak Tomb No.3

Anak Tomb No.3 is a chamber tomb of Goguryeo located in Anak, North Korea. It is known for mural paintings and an epitaph. It is part of the Complex of Goguryeo Tombs.

It was discovered in 1949 with valuable treasures having been stolen, but murals were kept in good condition. The man and woman in wall paintings wear Chinese-style dresses and are considered the masters of the tomb.Fact|date=September 2008 Its structure and murals are closer to those of Chinese tombs found in Liaoning than to those of Goguryeo.

Epitaph and its interpretation

The Anak Tomb No.3 is one of few Goguryeo tombs that have epitaphs so that their dates can be determined. Its seven-lined epitaph contains the date 357, the personal name Dong Shou (冬壽), his title, his birthplace and his age at death.Fact|date=September 2008 Accordingly, scholars generally regard this site as the tomb of Dong Shou.Fact|date=September 2008 Although North Korean scholars claim that it is the mausoleum of King Micheon or King Gogugwon, such theories are not considered seriously outside North Korea.

Dong Shou is identified as Tong Shou (佟壽), who is recorded in the "Book of Jin" and "Zizhi Tongjian". Originated in the Liaodong Commandery, he served to Xianbei ruler Murong Huang of the Former Yan. By order of the emperor, Commander Tong Shou attacked Huang's brother and rival Murong Ren in Liaodong sometime around 331, but he surrendered to Ren after being severely defeated. In 336, however, Murong Ren was killed by Huang and Tong Shou fled to Goguryeo. He spent the rest of life in Goguryeo.Fact|date=September 2008

The epitaph reflects a complex situation in which Tong Shou, and Goguryeo, were put. It uses "Yonghe" (永和), the era name of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in Southern China although the era name had already been changed from "Yonghe" to "Shengping" in that year. He claimed various titles including "Minister of Lelang" and "Governor of Changli, Xuantu and Daifang." They are obviously nominal but indicates his leverage over Chinese in the Korean peninsula. It is not clear whether these titles were given by the Eastern Jin or just self-designation. Scholars associate one of his title "Minister of Lelang" with the title "Duke of Lelang", which was bestowed on King Gogugwon by Murong Jun of the Former Yan in 354. This means that the former traitor to the Former Yan became its rear vassal.

Although the Eastern Jin had no longer any control over northwestern Korea, there is much evidence that people there had affection for the Eastern Jin. Lelang and Daifang Commanderies were conquered by Goguryeo around 313 but it is unlikely that Goguryeo assumed full control over the former commanderies because its capital was still in far-north Wandu and Goguryeo had been defeated severely by the Former Yan in 342. The Chinese seem to have enjoyed a high degree of autonomy and have taken the lead of the Goguryeo culture until they were absorbed by the natives. [ [Takeda 1989] ]

Notes

References

* Okazaki Takashi (岡崎敬), "Anagaku sangōhun (Tō Ju bo) no kenkyū" (安岳三号墳 (冬寿墓) の研究), Shien (史淵), No.93, pp. 37-84, 1964.
* Takeda Yukio (武田幸男), "Kyūryōiki no shihai keitai" (旧領域の支配形態), Kōkuri shi to Higashi Ajia (高句麗史と東アジア), pp. 78-107, 1989.

ee also

*Goguryeo tomb murals
*Korean art
*Three Kingdoms of Korea
*Korean history
*List of Korea-related topics