Songsan-ri Burial Mounds, Tomb No. 6

[Garubejio]
According to this research data, one of these two tombs is sure to belong to King Muryeong. The tomb at the back is larger, but in my opinion, King Muryeong’s tomb is the one at the front. Why? Because the larger tomb is a fake! Constructing a larger, fancier tomb was a typical method of camouflage used to protect the real tomb. I’m sure of it. They might have deceived other people but they can’t deceive me! Hurry up! Let’s start excavating! Ha-ha-ha! I’ve found it! This brick tomb is exceptional. Wow! That painted mural represents the four deities! It must be very rare and precious. As I expected, this tomb is significantly different to the tombs of other kings. Ha-ha-ha! I’ve finally found the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong!

[Narration]
The tomb here is a reproduction of Songsan-ri Tomb No. 6 which was once thought to be the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong. When it was excavated, the tomb was found to be empty and thus its occupant was not identifiable. It was named Tomb No. 6 as it was the sixth tomb of a member of the Baekje royal family to be discovered. During the Japanese Colonial Period, the Japanese history teacher, Garubejion, insisted that the tomb he found was the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong, located nearby, remained safe from the intruders and grave robbers. It is a great historical irony that the error of an amateur historian actually protected the real tomb of King Muryeong from pillaging.

For a long time, this tomb had been wrongly identified, but who did it actually belong to? The question has still not been answered. No clues or information regarding the identity of the tomb’s occupant remained due to repeated theft by intruders. The only fact known with any certainty is that it is the tomb of a member of King Muryeong’s family.

The most important features of Songsan-ri Tomb No. 6 are that it is built of brick, just like King Muryeong’s, and that it houses the painted mural called Sasindo, the Painting of Four Deities. The ravages of time have erased much of the mural, but you can vaguely see the features of four deities. These four holy animals are called Sasin. Sasindo is a painting of the four symbolic, legendary animals that represent the four directions, and they serve as the guardians of the tomb.

This tomb is both historically valuable and a painful reminder of the frequency of theft. Only the four deities who have guarded the tomb since its construction know the identity of the person interred here.