Complex of Koguryo tombs facts for kids

The Complex of Koguryo Tombs is a collection of ancient tombs, which are places where people were buried, located in North Korea. These tombs were built a very long time ago by the people of the Koguryo Kingdom. This kingdom was powerful and ruled parts of China and Korea from about 37 BCE to the 7th century CE. In 2004, these special tombs were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning they are important to everyone in the world.

One of the three Kangso Mausoleums, seen from the outside.

What Are the Koguryo Tombs?

The tombs are made from stone and earth. Many of them have amazing, detailed paintings inside. Historians have found about 10,000 tombs from the Koguryo Kingdom in China and Korea. Only about 100 of these have paintings inside. Most of these painted tombs, about 80, are in North Korea today.

Why Are These Tombs Special?

The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes 63 tombs. Sixteen of these tombs have beautiful paintings. They were chosen because:

• Their paintings are very detailed and show what daily life was like long ago.
• The way they were built shows great engineering skills.
• They help us understand what the Koguryo people believed about burying their dead.
• The burial traditions of the Koguryo Kingdom influenced many later countries, including modern Korea and Japan.

Where Are the Tombs Located?

The 63 tombs that are part of the World Heritage Site are not all in one place. They are spread out around the city of Pyongyang and in nearby areas. Experts believe these tombs were built for kings, queens, and other important people from the Koguryo Kingdom.

Inside the Susan-ri tomb.

Protecting the Tombs

Sadly, some of the tombs were broken into by thieves a long time ago. Only a few were found completely untouched when scientists first explored them.

Sometimes, experts from North Korea and South Korea work together to study and protect the Koguryo tombs. This cooperation depends on how well the two countries are getting along at the time.

Sharing the Tombs with the World

In 2018, North Korea started allowing more visitors from other countries to see the tombs. This was part of a plan to help improve the country's economy.

In May 2020, the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, created a special online exhibit. It was called "Immersive Digital Galleries." This exhibit included digital versions of some of the amazing paintings from the Anak No. 3 tomb, allowing people to see them from anywhere.