Northeast Asian History Network

Southern Wall of the Western Auxiliary Chamber - Portrait of the Deceased - Pavilion

This is a detailed view of the pavilion depicted in the noblewoman's portrait of the deceased on the southern wall of the western auxiliary chamber in Anak Tomb No. 3. Even at first glance, this pavilion is an incredibly extravagant object produced with the finest silk. Unlike with the thick red silk depicted in the nobleman's portrait of the deceased, the Lady's pavilion features fine silk with white cloud patterns. One could almost hear the frictional sound of the silk resonating from this mural. This silk appears to be of the same material used for the noblewoman's Jeogori (traditional Korean upper garment). The white silk screen at the back of the pavilion features a beautiful red floral pattern.
The rectangular pavilion is raised over a wooden platform. The front screen of the pavilion is raised and tied up using red silk straps, and the top is decorated with lotuses, tassels, and jade ornaments. Lotus flowers can be seen at the peak and corners of the pavilion. The lotus at the peak of the pavilion is in full bloom while the corners feature lotuses that appear to have just started to bloom. The black lotus sepals seen on the nobleman's pavilion are not depicted in this mural. While the lotuses depicted in the nobleman's portrait appeared solemn and understated, the lotuses in this mural are vibrant and luxurious. The silk and lotuses depicted in each pavilion convey a sense of harmony in when viewed in unison. This depiction can be considered an excellent example of the artist's insight and delicate expression.