# 1 Main Title: The Twelve Zodiac Animals in Relics

# 2 Opening: Animals that are the most familiar being to humans have been always with people. These paintings of the Joseon Dynasty imply Korean people's thoughts and lifestyle through such familiar animal images. These realistic and also comical looking images represent the twelve zodiac animals as symbols to expel evil spirits but bring good luck. Let's find out about relics and artifacts that embrace Korean ancestors' consciousness and life.

# 3 Animals and Humanity in Prehistoric Times: The Petroglyphs of Bangudae Terrace, located on the upper reaches of the Taehwagang River in Ulsan City, depict diverse aspects of the prehistoric way of life, including animals and hunting. Animals have been always objects of terror and of worship, as well as playing an important role in the life of ancient people. As petroglyphs of animals have been found here, it seems that this area was a sacred place where shamanistic rites were held. Silla artifacts known as tou, or clay figurines, have shamanistic meanings, like the petroglyphs. Being attached to the earthenware and/or a complete item, the clay figurines, which look rustic but well-expressed in the characteristic features of animals, appear to have been used as grave goods or in religious rituals. In particular, the Long-necked Jar with Clay Figurines bears diverse images of humans, a snake with a frog in its mouth, and other images, and appears to represent wishes for prosperity and rebirth, and the expulsion of evil spirits. It is believed to have been used to store grain seeds, which were highly precious at that time. The expression of animals has developed in diverse forms and shapes along with the development of human civilization. People began depicting not only horses but also men on horseback in detail, while sophisticated animal patterns appeared with the development of metal crafts.
The Great Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje, which is exquisitely engraved with sixty-five animals, is a masterpiece of metal craft in which ancient people’s wishes have been incorporated into a work of art. Animal-shaped earthenware was widely used in rituals not only in Silla during the Three Kingdoms Period, but also in Gaya and Baekje. Especially, the horse, as one of the animals offered for a ritual in ancient times,

# 4 The Twelve Zodiac Animals in Mural Paintings: Images of animals with humans are found not only on grave goods but also in mural paintings. Mural paintings feature fantastic images of gods and realistic scenes of life that provide us with clues about aspects of daily life in ancient times and the status of a tomb's occupant. Among (Silla?) murals, the most notable one is the Sasindo (Painting of the Animal Symbols of the Four Directions), in which the tiger and the dragon among all the zodiac animals appear as guardian deities together with the vermilion bird and the black tortoise. The Sasindo depicts the Four Symbols in the Chinese constellations, and also has a profound religious meaning.

# 5 The Twelve Zodiac Animal Deities in Royal Tombs: After Silla unified the Korean peninsula, the Sasindo disappeared while statues of the twelve zodiac animal deities were erected at the royal tombs. The Neungji Pagoda, which is believed to be the crematorium of King Munmu of Silla (626-681), features depiction of the twelve zodiac animal deities in various forms. This pagoda, placed on a stylobate and engraved with the twelve zodiac animal deities in relief, gives us an idea about the origins of the tradition of featuring the zodiac animal deities at a royal tomb. Among these deities expressed by various techniques, only the rat, ranked first among the animals of the zodiac, wears the uniform of a civil official, while the other animals wear the uniform of a military official. Each of these twelve zodiac animal deities served as a guardian of a compass direction. Currently, the Neungji Pagoda bears all of the zodiac animal images except the tiger, dragon, and snake, which have been damaged.
The zodiac animal stone statues decorating the tombs of the Unified Silla period are depicted wearing either the uniform of a military official or that of a civil official. The royal tomb, which is believed to be that of King Hyeondeok of Silla, is accompanied by stone statues of the zodiac animals dressed in the uniforms of civil officials. Thus, the twelve zodiac animals became established as symbols of time and direction in the Unified Silla period, and since then have become deeply entrenched in the beliefs and thoughts of the Korean people. During the Goryeo and Joseon periods, they were used as representative animal designs.

# 6 The Twelve Zodiac Animals in Folk Paintings: Although the twelve zodiac animals have developed in keeping with the times, their symbolic significance has been maintained. In particular, folk paintings placed emphasis on the religious characteristics of zodiac animals, and the dragon and the tiger in particular were depicted as divine animals with the power to repel ghosts and evil spirits.

# 7 Ending: As such, from the Unified Silla Period to the Joseon Dynasty, the twelve zodiac animals were expressed in diverse forms in a variety of works including paintings, craftworks, and other relics according to the times. They are the products of faith and beliefs that have been transmitted through the ages to the present day, and their symbolic meaning has been preserved by the Korean people.