@article{ART003315122},
author={Sebastian Mueller},
title={The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period},
journal={Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University},
issn={1598-3021},
year={2026},
volume={83},
number={1},
pages={143-176}
TY - JOUR
AU - Sebastian Mueller
TI - The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period
JO - Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
PY - 2026
VL - 83
IS - 1
PB - Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
SP - 143
EP - 176
SN - 1598-3021
AB - Royal tombs of Silla’s maripkan period are an enigma in plain sight. They have been excavated and analyzed; yet it remains a challenge to identify the occupant or to distinguish a royal tomb from other elite burials. The strong reliance on traditional historiography and subjective criteria in determining royal graves appears to be an obstacle to achieving an understanding of the ancient situation.
The present study uses the only clearly identifiable royal tomb of the Three Kingdoms period on the Korean peninsula - the burial of the Paekche king Muryŏng and his consort - as a reference point for examining royal self-portrayal and representation.
It is argued that Muryŏng’s tomb expresses basic elements of an over-regional elite culture and of royal representation. A comparison with tombs from Kyŏngju suggests that the ruler’s position was closer to that of a primus inter pares and that power was less centralized during the maripkan period.
KW - Paekche;Silla;Muryŏng;Royal Tombs;Grave Goods
DO -
UR -
ER -
Sebastian Mueller. (2026). The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 83(1), 143-176.
Sebastian Mueller. 2026, "The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period", Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, vol.83, no.1 pp.143-176.
Sebastian Mueller "The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83.1 pp.143-176 (2026) : 143.
Sebastian Mueller. The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period. 2026; 83(1), 143-176.
Sebastian Mueller. "The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83, no.1 (2026) : 143-176.
Sebastian Mueller. The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 83(1), 143-176.
Sebastian Mueller. The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University. 2026; 83(1) 143-176.
Sebastian Mueller. The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period. 2026; 83(1), 143-176.
Sebastian Mueller. "The King is Dead, Where is the King? : On Silla’s “Royal” Tombs of the Maripkan Period" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83, no.1 (2026) : 143-176.
