Kangso Three Tombs, Goguryeo tomb complex in Kangso-guyok, Nampo, North Korea
Kangso Three Tombs is a group of three Goguryeo stone-chamber tombs with earthen mounds in Kangso-guyok, South Pyongan Province. The large tomb, about 51.6 m in diameter and 8.86 m high, has a square burial chamber built of single granite slabs and a stepped ceiling. Its walls carry the Four Guardian Deities painted directly on dressed granite without plaster.
These mausoleums date to the Goguryeo kingdom, which ruled the Korean Peninsula from 37 BCE to 668 CE. The tombs reflect the advanced burial practices and architectural knowledge of this ancient state.
The name Kangso derives from the tomb's location in Kangso-guyok. The large tomb's north wall bears a black tortoise entwined with a serpent, the east wall a blue dragon, the west a white tiger, and the narrow south walls a red phoenix on each side. Painted directly on polished granite without plaster, the colours remain vivid after some 1,300 years.
The tombs lie in Kangso-guyok, South Pyongan Province, near the Taedong River south of Pyongyang. The large tomb's chamber is entered through a passage in the middle of its south wall, and the three mounds stand close together, so they are seen in sequence. The site forms part of the Complex of Koguryo Tombs, UNESCO World Heritage site and National Treasure #28.
Japanese archaeologist Imanishi Ryū discovered these burial structures in 1911, initiating decades of research into Goguryeo funeral traditions. His findings helped scholars understand the social hierarchy and religious practices of this ancient civilization.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,536 contributors worldwide.