The National Museum of Korea (rep. by Kim Hong-nam) presents a special exhibition of Goguryeo's
four guardian deities under the tile, "Four Deities, Protectors of Tombs". Held at the Goguryeo Room
in the Hall of Archaeology as the fourth event under the theme, the exhibition guides visitors
to the world of baekho (white tiger). The exhibition shows various images of baekho collected from
Ssangyeongchong (Tomb of Double Columns), Suryeopchong (Tomb of Hunting Scene), the
Jinpari Tomb No. 1 and the Great Gangseo Tomb.

Ancient Goguryeo tombs are famous for their mural paintings depicting the guardian deities protecting
the four cardinal directions. One of the four guardians, baekho as the guardian deity of the west
is conceived from the animal which has been so intimate with Korean people via various mythologies,
legends and folk tales. The early images of baekho are characterized by the head of a tiger and
the reptilian body comparable to that of the cheongnyong (blue dragon) which is marked by
a long neck, waist and tail. The image of the 6th century, however, exhibits a more powerful supernatural
figure with exaggerated mouth, protruded eyes, sharp teeth and front legs raised in front of the
body in a sinister manner. The new figure is often confused with that of cheongnyong, the guardian
deity of the east, but the shape of the head and the wavy stripes covering the body reveals that it is
the tiger protecting the west of the universe. 
  
The early images of baekho show no distinctive difference from those of the cheongnyong, but its
increased importance in the mural paintings led to the organic harmony in its physical form oozing
mystical energy of an imaginary animal.