Northeast Asian History Network

Figures on the western wall of the middle passage (Infantry) 01

Figures on the western wall of the middle passage (Infantry) 02

This is a detailed view of the infantrymen carrying Hwandudaedos (ring-pommel sword) in the Depiction of the Noble Couple’s Outing on the western wall of the middle passage. The men are wearing military attaché Chaeks (Headwear worn by civil servants and military attachés. Civil servants wore Chaeks with tops that were split in the back and curving forward. Military attachés wore Chaeks with cone-shaped points.). Four infantrymen can be seen escorting Jin and his carriage in the procession.
They are wearing form-fitting trousers (Gung-go) that provide high mobility. The infantrymen are also wearing Jeogoris (traditional Korean upper garment) with waist bands, and the necklines, sleeves, and bottom hemlines feature Seons (accents on garments mimicking the black feathers on a crane’s neck or wingtips, influenced by Siberian shamanism) of different colors. These elements are key features of Koguryo attire.
The infantrymen in the image can be seen carrying Hwandudaedos (ring-pommel sword mostly found in Three Kingdoms Period tombs) on their shoulders. Koguryo tomb murals portray military organizations with a variety of soldiers and generally consist of cavalrymen and infantrymen. Infantrymen were usually armed with swords, lances, hatchets, and bows, and they were designated as swordsmen, lancers, hatchetmen, and archers, respectively.