Northeast Asian History Network

Eastern Wall of the Eastern Auxiliary Chamber - Kitchen - Figures 1

This is a detailed view of one of the female kitchen staff depicted in the kitchen scene on the eastern wall of the eastern auxiliary chamber. The maid's hair is estimated to have been raised above her head with two elongated U-shaped loops that tie in the center with a red hair band. This type of hairstyle can also be seen in murals painted on other walls in the tomb, indicating that it may have been a popular style at the time. She is wearing a long, white Durumagi-type (traditional Korean overcoat) upper garment with an attached skirt and a waistband. The neckline and sleeves, which are prone to wear, have been treated with Seons (accents on garments mimicking the black feathers on a crane’s neck or wingtips, influenced by Siberian shamanism). The maid has both sleeves rolled up, ostensibly absorbed in her work. Her facial features have been delicately rendered, and her red lips seem to have had rouge applied. Although her depiction is simple, it well-conveys a sense of the natural beauty present in the everyday life of Koguryo era women.