Koguryo tomb murals are an important component of Koguryo history and culture, and the murals depicting the four gods are important themed murals among Koguryo tomb murals.

The four-image system is a conception of ancient Chinese astronomy and calendar, involving the four winds, the four qi, the four directions, the four seasons, the four gods and so forth. The system is associated with many myths, and is a theme of art. The murals depicting the four gods are both astronomically associated with the star chart and culturally associated with the intention to help deceased souls go to Heaven, and are dominant ones among later Koguryo murals.