Temples and Tombs

Many claim that the roots of Taekwondo may be traced to the Koguryo Dynasty in 37 BC. They claim that murals in some Koguryo Dynasty royal tombs depict men practicing Taekwondo style techniques. This interpretation of the mural images apparently began with the Study of Culture in Ancient Korea, by Tatashi Saito, in which Saito said of one mural:

"The painting either shows us that the person buried in the tomb practiced Taekwondo while he was alive or it tells us that people practiced it, along with dancing and singing, for the purpose of consoling the dead."

However, interpretation of these murals many times reflects what the interpreter wishes to see. The Koguryo tomb murals do not clearly depict the practice of any type of kicking and punching art, Taekwondo included.

Muyong-chong and Kakshu-chong are two royal tombs built in the Tenth Kingdom of the Koguryo Dynasty (late fourth century) that were discovered by Japanese archaeologists in 1935 in Tungku, Chain County, Tunghua Province, in Manchuria. Since Muyong-chong was excavated in the ancient Koguryo capital of Tungku and, since Tungku was the capital only until 427AD, it is assumed that this tomb was constructed between 3 and 427 AD. Some believe that murals on the Muyong-chong ceiling show two men practicing Taekwondo-like techniques. The murals show two men, with goatees, moustaches, long hair, and wearing loincloths, who are at least four feet apart with their outstretched hands a foot away from each other (see figure 1 for an example of the mural drawings). Similarly, the paintings on the ceiling of Kakchu-chong show two men who are apparently dancing or wrestling (these figures date from the age of San-Sang, the tenth King of Koguryo).

Muyong-chong Drawings
Figure 1

Some say these murals depict men sparring in the art of Subak (an ancient ancestor of Taekwondo). One could also interpret that these murals show stretching, dancing, or possibly Mongolian style wrestling, but they certainly do not resemble modern Taekwondo.

The ceiling of Sambo-chong Tomb shows a man in a deep horseback-riding stance wearing a costume similar to the modern day Taekwondo uniform (loose trousers and a jacket held together with a belt tied around the mid-section). The man appears to be blocking high with one arm and blocking low with the other arm. The figure may also be interpreted as a man who appears to be pushing walls apart. Some claim this mural depicts the practicing of a Taekwondo hyung (pattern) but it is difficult to accept this interpretation since the mural only shows a single figure and there are other logical explanations for the position of the man.

Guarding the Sok Kul An Buddhist Cave Temple is a carved statue of Kumgang Yuksa, a famous warrior from the reign of King Hye-Gong (742-762 AD). The clenched fist, a strong knife-hand, and muscled legs which may have been the result of heavy training. The warrior also appears to be in a typical martial art pose, but again, this is open to interpretation.

A mural painting at the Samsil Tomb shows two warriors engaged in a face-to-face match in an apparent Subak stance. Another painting at the same tomb shows the scene of an apparent Korean wrestling bout, which some feel clearly distinguishes it from the Subak painting.

Some also cite, as evidence of early Taekwondo history, the Buddhist images inscribed on the Keumkang Ginat Tower at the Sokkuram Cave in the Pulkuk-Sa Temple, in Kyongju (see figure 2). These two giant Buddhist "diamond warrior" stone relief carvings from the Silla Dynasty (circa 751 AD) show the warrior Kum Kang Yuksa posing fiercely with one hand stretched low and the other held near his ear in a fist, protecting Buddhism from devils. Archaeologists have discovered these relatively common images across Buddhist Asia, from India to China and Korea. They actually portray Buddhist guardian deities, called Vajradhara in Sanskrit. Lee Yong-bok writes, The In Wang statues (Kum-kang Yuksa) are from China and India; they are not evidence of Korean martial arts. Lee explains that both guardians originally held a spear in their hands, but when the images were transplanted to Korea, artists did not replicate the weapons. The resulting clenched hands resemble closed fists, thus appearing as empty-hand martial arts poses (1990:47). Had the spears been reproduced, those who argue that the statues are in martial poses might not be so insistent. Some believe the position of these giants represent the early developments of Subak. The present day poomse (form/pattern) "Keumgang" is named for these warriors and it uses the double blocks they depict.

In reality, the Kumkang Yuksa have no relationship to martial arts. Archaeologists have discovered these relatively common images across Buddhist Asia, from India to China and Korea. They actually portray Buddhist guardian deities, called Vajradhara in Sanskrit. Some think that both guardians originally held a spear in their hands, but when the images were transplanted to Korea, artists did not replicate the weapons. The resulting clenched hands resemble closed fists, thus appearing as empty-hand martial arts poses. Had the spears been reproduced, those who argue that the statues are in martial poses might not be so insistent.

Keumkang Ginat Tower
Figure 2

Even if die-hard proponents insist the carvings are actual martial poses, their documented presence in China and India would indicate that Silla dynasty fighting arts had originated in one of those countries, not in Korea. As may be seen in figures 1 and 2, it is easy to interpret the positions of the men as performing almost anything you desire. It could be said that they depict the earliest examples of aerobic exercise.

Some think these tomb paintings testify to Subak/Taekwondo being well established during this time, and to it being a popular activity that was not limited to noblemen or warriors but was also practiced by peasants and farmers. However, as pointed out, the figures are open to other interpretations.

The history of Korea and Taekwondo may be traced with some confidence to the Three Kingdoms Era of Korean history. Korean history is sketchy before the Three Kingdoms Era. 

Go to Three Kingdoms Era