Tamjing was a famous painter of Koguryo. He was also a technician who taught Japanese the technique of making black ink and paper.
It is a story when he was drawing the world famous Kumdang mural paintings in the Pomryung ( Horuji) Temple in Japan.
He was invited to Japan to teach the Japanese how to draw paintings and how to make paints.
The Japanese monks who built the Pomryung Temple invited him to draw mural paintings on Kumdang wall.
He agreed and went to Pomryung Temple and prepared for the painting.
However even after two months, he could not start the painting because he was told that millions of Sui army was invading Koguryo. Could Koguryo repulse such huge forces? If not, how miserable would be his compatriot under the occupation of foreign forces!
Kept by this worries he could not make proper colors and could not draw the painting for he was unable to concentrate strength to his brush.
Since he spent several months in agony, some Japanese monks become suspicious of him. They said that “Is he really the famous painter of Koguryo?”, “Isn’t he an idler disguised as the painter?” “He is really a false painter for he couldn’t draw yet”
He heard such words in person but still he couldn’t take his brush. Even he draw the mural by the pressure of the monks, he thought, it couldn’t be a good one and even he complete it, who would enjoy and appreciate it since it was done by a person of a ruined nation,
One day the head of the temple came to see him and told him;
” Hallow! Be glad! Millions of Sui army were all defeated by your General Ultsi Mun Dok.”
“Really? Is that true?”
Tamjing sprang out of his sick bed and shouted.
He was so excited to know the truth and on the next morning he had a bath with clean water in the mountain and started his painting. With the joy of his country’s repulsing the aggression of a big power, he became enthusiastic and his brush was flying in the wall like a dancing crane. Thus the mysterious and fantastic mural was completed very soon.
Many monks and Japanese people came to see the completed murals and were surprised for its ecstasy.
“This mural is the unique masterpiece of the world. His skill is really mysterious.”
He replied; “This mural is good because it carries the spirit of Koguryo. It is not because of my mysterious skill. You should know that it was completed by the spirit of the Koguryo people who are sagacious, brave and strong that no big country could defeat.”
The mural painting in Pomryung Temple was recognized as the zenith of art and was considered as the treasure and pride of Japan. However, this mural was burnt away unfortunately in the year of 1948, thus afterwards people could never enjoy it.
