Twin Column Tomb

Twin Column Tomb
Chosŏn'gŭl	쌍기둥무덤
Revised Romanization	Ssanggidungmudeom
McCune–Reischauer	Ssanggidungmudŏm
Alternative name
Chosŏn'gŭl	쌍영총
Hancha	雙楹塚
Revised Romanization	Ssangyeongchong
McCune–Reischauer	Ssangyŏngch'ong

The Twin Column Tomb (Korean: 쌍기둥무덤) is a two-chambered burial tomb dating from Koguryo period. It is located in Nampo, North Korea. It is listed as a National Treasure of North Korea for the painting on the north wall of the back chamber.[1] The tomb was discovered by the Japanese during their occupation of the Korean Peninsula.[2]

At the Korea International War Crimes Tribunal in June 2001, the DPRK alleged that US Forces used the tomb "to lock up and torture our innocent civilians, during which the frescos were ruthlessly destroyed".[3]

The paintings

The plaster walls of the tomb were richly decorated with people riding chariots and horses, as well as a musical band. They have all now but disappeared. A portion of the wall painting showing a horse rider was affixed to the wall in 1913, when the tomb was investigated by the Japanese; it later came to Joseon Government-General Museum and is now in the collection of the National Museum of Korea.[4]

References

1. "Twin Pillars Tomb". University of Pennsylvania. 2014. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
2. Chua, Pei Jun (Jermaine) (2011). "III. UNESCO: bringing Koguryo heritage to the international stage". The Making of China's Koguryo: Political Motivations and Cultural Strategies in the Borderlands (PDF) (M.A.). National University of Singapore. Retrieved January 2, 2015.^[permanent dead link‍]
3. Investigation Committee, National Front for Democratic Unification (June 2001). "2. Report from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on U.S. War Crimes During the Korean War. IV. Plunder of Cultural Treasures and the People's Property". iacenter.org. International Action Center. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
4. "Collection Highlights-Fragment of a Mural Featuring a Horse Rider". National Museum of Korea. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.