Mural Tomb of Bak Ik, Miryang

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.459

Category

유적지

Era

조선시대 초기

Designated year

2005

Location

밀양시, 경상남도— 경남 밀양시 청도면 고법리 산134번지 내

Coordinates

35.556945, 128.662925

The tomb of Bak Ik of the Milseong Bak clan is located on the hillside of a family graveyard in Gobeop-ri, Cheongdo-myeon, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do. It is a square tomb with stone figures, altar, stone slabs round the tumulus, and mound 6m wide, 4.8m long, and 2.3m high. Inside is a stone chamber (5m long, 1m wide, 0.8m high) covered with murals on all four walls. In terms of construction, this tomb is notable for being a square tomb with a tunnel. Square tombs were popular among a certain class from the late Goryeo Dynasty to the early Joseon Dynasty, but this tomb is different since it has a tunnel to the south and the stone slabs surrounding the tomb are sloped. No tunnels have been found in the horizontal entrance stone chamber tombs of early Joseon as yet, and the tunnel in this tomb is assumed to have functioned as tomb entrance and door for putting the coffin in. Thus, it provides information on the origin of tomb styles. The murals are painted in fresco. The granite walls were covered in plaster; the paintings were first outlined in black, and then the colors were applied (red, blue, black) while the plaster was still wet. Though some parts have been damaged, the remaining parts clearly show paintings of people, horses, tools, and other things related to everyday life. Bak Ik (penname: Songeun), who lived from 1332 to 1398, was a civil official of the Goryeo Dynasty. Posthumously granted the rank of minister, he passed the state civil service exam during the reign of King Gongmin and served in many high posts. He is the author of a collection of poetry and prose titled Songeunjip. The murals in the tomb are valuable in archaeology and art history and for studying the life and customs of early Joseon; the memorial stone is also important in studying the life of Bak Ik as a civil official of late Goryeo. The murals were found while repairing the gravesite, which was damaged by typhoons in 2000, and an in-depth study has been carried out on them.

Location