Inmyeonjo

Inmyeonjo (Korean: 인면조; Hanja: 人面鳥; literally "human face bird") is a Korean mythological creature depicted as a bird with a human face. Most are female, though some are male. Considered a sacred bird that bridges the sky and the land, it frequently appears in ancient tomb murals from Korea's Three Kingdoms period and symbolizes longevity, said to live for a thousand years. In Goguryeo, inmyeonjo appears in several tomb murals, including those at Anak County, Dukheungri, Samsilchong, and Mooyongchong.

At the Dukheungri tombs in Nampo, South Pyongan Province, two figures named Cheonchu (天秋) and Mansei (萬歲) were discovered in 1976. In Silla, the creature is shown on gilt-bronze shoes excavated in Gyeongju. For Baekje, four inmyeonjos appear on the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje. Many believe the inmyeonjo on the Silver Cup with Bronze Stand (銅托銀盞) shares the same symbolism of longevity as those in Goguryeo.

However, some argue it may be Kalaviṅka, based on the shape of its wings. Kalaviṅka is an imaginary creature from ancient Indian myths and Buddhist texts that recites the Buddha's words. After the 5th century, artifacts and murals showing a human-faced bird appear in Goguryeo and Baekje tombs. The inmyeonjo at the bottom of the Silver Cup with Bronze Stand, excavated from the Tomb of King Muryeong in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, has a human head but a bird's body and wings, with a corolla of feathers on its head.

Murals at Dukheungri and Mooyongchong also depict the creature. The inmyeonjo on the ceiling of Mooyongchong wears long hats favored by the Xian, reflecting a blend of Buddhist and Taoist culture. In Buddhist contexts, the inmyeonjo in Goguryeo and Baekje tombs is interpreted as a prayer for Sukhavati (極樂往生), the Pure Land, influenced by the Kalaviṅka (迦陵迦迦) of Buddhism. Kalaviṅka, from the Sanskrit "kalavinka," is a bird from Amitābha's Sukhavati, with a human upper body and bird lower body, said to have a beautiful voice even before hatching.

It appears in East Asian Buddhist art, including Korea, China, and Japan, and is shown dancing or playing music in Dunhuang murals. Buddhism's Kalaviṅka draws from Indian mythology: the Gandharva, a male figure with a bird or horse lower body and golden wings, serves Indra and plays heavenly music.