Northeast Asian History Network

Eastern Wall of the Eastern Gallery - Procession –Drummer 3

This is a detailed view of the mounted drummer depicted on the eastern gallery wall in Anak Tomb No. 3. The drum itself features specially-designed legs to be mounted on a horse. Notably, two drums of different sizes can be seen in the image. The drummer is depicted dynamically with his arms raised, ready to beat on the drums with black percussion mallets.
Of the bands depicted on this mural, the mounted drummer appears at the tail end of the procession behind the nobleman's carriage. This drummer is wearing a Durumagi (traditional Korean overcoat) and an unusual official hat. His attire may indicate that this figure is of higher status than the musicians near the front of the procession. A horseman wearing a Geon (a type of ancient headwear that wraps around the entire head and tied in the back, similar to a bandanna) can be seen safely guiding the horse. This imagery is not found in other depictions of mounted bands and the horseman is surmised to be stabilizing the horse to prevent the drum from falling.