316 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES • 2018 • 57(2) The History and Archaeology of the Koguryo˘ Kingdom. Edited by Mark E. Byington. Early Korea Project Occasional Series. Cambridge, MA: Korea Institute, Harvard University, 2016. 520 pp., 188 illustrations, 37 maps. Distributed by University of Hawai‘i Press. Paperback US $50. ISBN 9780988692855. Reviewed by KANG HyunSook, Department of Archaeology and Art History, Dongguk University, Gyeongju The History and Archaeology of the Koguryo˘ conducting research on Koguryo˘. The other Kingdom was published in 2016 as part of the type is the results of research from various Early Korea Project at the Korea Institute of fields, from the history and archaeology of Harvard University. Edited by Mark E. Koguryo˘ to tomb art and architecture. Byington, the book is a collection of papers Research results are divided into four on the history and archaeology of Koguryo˘ by categories: history, archaeology, tombs and researchers from Korea, China, Japan, the funerary art, and historiography. United States, and France. The papers Part 1, devoted to history, is organized so as contained in this book were originally to facilitate an understanding of how Koguryo˘ presented at a conference on the “History was formed as a polity within East Asia’s and Archaeology of the Koguryo˘ Kingdom” regional sphere and its political and cultural held in 2005. The conference was organized relationships with surrounding areas against to provide an opportunity for Koguryo˘ the historical backdrop of the overall region. specialists from various countries to share The first paper by Mark E. Byington explains their research results at a time when the the formation of Koguryo˘ as a state in relation historical dispute between Korea and China to the Xuantu Commandery, a province of over the ancient kingdom was reaching a new Han Dynasty China. Based on a critical level of acrimony. review of written sources and archaeological The dispute over Koguryo˘ touches upon evidence found in Liaoning Province, China, the highly sensitive issue of the national the author discusses the organization and identity of Korea. Korean people consider location of this Han commandery and its themselves descendants of the Koguryo˘ subsequent relocation. In writing this paper people and believe that their country is the on the emergence of Koguryo˘, the author was historical successor to the ancient kingdom. wary of uncritically citing information from They were therefore stunned and shocked by primary sources. the Chinese claim that Koguryo˘ is part of The next paper by Yeo Hokyu deals with Chinese history. This historical dispute Koguryo˘’s external policy within the rapidly between Korea and China in which both changing regional order in East Asia of the sides see Koguryo˘ as part of their own histories fourth century. The paper discusses how the is the result of misguided reasoning whereby ancient kingdom established relations with the ancient kingdom is understood based on its various Chinese dynasties, including the present-day territory and the ethnicity of the Former Yan, Later Zhao, and Eastern Jin, present-day population therein. It is crucially in the early fourth century. This period saw important not to lose sight of the fact that the collapse of the Han Chinese dynasty- Koguryo˘ was an “ancient” state when attempt- centered regional order, which gave way to ing to understand this kingdom both at the the era of the Sixteen Barbarian States. micro and macro levels. During the same time, Koguryo˘ established This book, compiled in cognizance of the diplomatic ties with Baekje and Silla in the dangers of such a perspective focused on the southern Korean peninsula, thereby building present, contains two types of material. One its own independent sphere of influence. In type is basic source material, reliable textual arguing that the creation of an independent and archaeological sources that can assist sphere of influence led to the establishment of historians in the English-speaking world in a Koguryo˘-centered worldview, this paper is BOOK REVIEWS 317 helpful for understanding the political and gou cemetery (Huanren), Shijia cemetery social status of Koguryo˘ within the East Asian (Fushun), and UNESCO World Heritage- region of the fourth and fifth centuries. listed tombs of kings and nobles. The Royal The third paper by Lee Sungsi is a Tombs are stone-piled tombs such as Tomb of comprehensive discussion of the political the General, Tomb of the Great King, Tomb and cultural influences of Koguryo˘ and other ofOneThousand Autumns, and Great Western East Asian states. The author describes the Tomb. The noble tombs are mural-painted political, social, and cultural influences of tombs such as Tombof the Wrestlers, Tomb of Koguryo˘ on Baekje, Silla, and Gaya in the the Dancers, Tombof Ranmou, and Tomb #4 southern Korean peninsula and on Wa(Japan), and #5 at Wukuifen. The Kwanggaet‘o stele particularly in such areas as political institu- located beside the Tomb of the Great King is tions and systems for controlling and ruling also described. All of these tombs have been over local provinces, defense systems includ- comprehensively discussed. ing mountain fortresses, and writing systems. The section on Koguryo˘ archaeological The author argues that Koguryo˘ played the sites located in North Korea provides infor- role of an intermediary in the acceptance of mation on the current status of research on Chinese culture, allowing states in the south- sites of walled cities and fortresses, tombs, and ern Korean peninsula to achieve civilization Buddhist temples and artifacts, and it presents without sinicization. the results so far achieved in this field of Part 2 presents the results of archaeological research. Meanwhile, the section on Koguryo˘ research on the sites and artifacts of Koguryo˘. archaeological sites located in South Korea The archaeological evidence from ancient discusses mountain fortresses and bastions in tombs and fortresses described in this part of the Hangang river valley, northern Gyeonggi- the book constitutes basic source material for do Province, and Geumgang river valley. This research on Koguryo˘. Archaeological results section furthermore contains the results of from China are divided into two regions: research into Koguryo˘’s military organization Liaoning Province (Li Xinquan) and Jilin based on the age and characteristics of the Province (Jin Xudong), while data from the Acha Mountain archaeological site, deter- Korean peninsula are presented separately for mined through archaeological and written North Korea (Baek Jong-oh) and South sources, and discusses weapons excavated Korea (Choi Jongtaik). All four authors are from the same site. archaeologists involved in Koguryo˘-related Part 3 discusses Koguryo˘ tombs and research projects in their respective regions. funerary arts from an East Asian perspective. Among the Koguryo˘ archaeological sites “Historical Changes in Koguryo˘ Tombs” discussed are the sites of capital cities such (Azuma Ushio) deals with the structures of as the Wunu Mountain Fortress, Xiaguchenzi the most representative types of Koguryo˘ Walled Site, Wandu (Hwando) Mountain tombs such as stone piled tombs, stone Fortress in Jilin Province, and Guoneicheung chambered earth-mound tombs, and mural (Kungnae-song). All are very important for painted tombs, at the same time as it describes understanding Koguryo˘’s walled capitals. the details of the mural paintings. This paper Meanwhile, defensive fortresses such as casts light on the structure of royal tombs and Shitaizi Mountain Fortress and those in Jilin offers hypotheses on their likely owners to Province, including Bawangchao Mountain help readers develop an overall understanding Fortress, Longtanshan Mountain Fortress, and of Koguryo˘ tombs. Readers are nonetheless Luotong Mountain Fortress, offer crucial cautioned that the author’s hypotheses on the insights into Koguryo˘’s defense system and ownership of Koguryo˘ tombs remain con- how it ruled over its provinces. jectural and scholars diverge widely on this This part of the book also contains issue. The two papers on funerary art are information about major Koguryo˘ tombs concerned with the archaeological record, located in the Liaoning and Jilin provinces, definition of tomb murals, style and content of including Wangjianglou, Gaolimuzi, and Koguryo˘ murals compared with other murals, Shangguchengzi in Liaoning and the Micang- and the historical context of the murals 318 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES • 2018 • 57(2) (Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt) or with the Organized by theme, this book does not Four Gods murals (Ariane Perrin). Although consistently follow or espouse any single the former paper offers an overview and viewpoint. As a collection of various research describes the details of current research, and is results on the history of Koguryo˘ and physical therefore helpful for broadening understand- vestiges thereof, it instead gives a voice to many ing of Koguryo˘ tomb murals as a funerary art different perspectives. This appears to be a form, it regrettably compares some of the strength of this publication. At the same time, mural themes with those in tomb murals of this same diversity of viewpoints undeniably the Han Dynasty and other Chinese dynasties. limits the possibility of providing a compre- By attempting to view Koguryo˘ tomb murals hensive view of Koguryo˘ history. Another within the Chinese Han mural tradition, it limitation of this book is that, even though it fails to bring to light their proper