This world heritage site contains ‘about 100 out of more than 10,000 Koguryo tombs in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and China; most of them are decorated with wall paintings; Korea’s Koguryo tombs include 63 individual tombs out of which 16 tombs are decorated with wall paintings. This tomb-culture finds an expression in the region including those of Japan.

The cultural value of the tombs reminds the cultural background of the migrants who settled here after being forced to leave their homelands due to volcanic eruptions and floods.

The Complex of Koguryo Tombs which includes both groups and individual tombs are situated mainly at the foot of mountains in Pyongyang and its surrounding provinces. Scholars find these tombs as the tombs of kings, members of the royal family, and the aristocracy.  They are built of stone and covered by stone or earthen mounds.

The subject matter of the wall paintings of the tombs offers an insight into the ‘now-vanished Koguryo culture, portraying the costumes, food, residential life and burial customs, as well as religious practices and imagery associated with Buddhism, Taoism and the Four Deities’.

Koguryo refers to the ancient royal people of Coraganga or Culla-kalinga whose kingdoms and culture flourished on the bank of the river Akashaganga. A physician group called Akasagotta were also attached with this royal house; perhaps, they migrated along with the royal family. The next royal house who were associated with the Culla-kalinga  were the Eka-ghariya or the Ek-chaliya. It seems the these migrants formed a group when left their ancient homeland.

The ‘four-deities’ is a wonderful term and that defines the faith and the god they worshipped; the ‘four-aryan path’; and the ‘four Gods’ symbolised by the ‘Tri-Deities and the Sudarshan or the Wheel of Law.