• Koguryo and Balhae
  • Susahn-ri Tomb
Eastern Wall of the Main Chamber - Figures Playing the Carrying-Drum
TitleEastern Wall of the Main Chamber - Figures Playing the Carrying-Drum
Eastern Wall of the Main Chamber - Figures Playing the Carrying-Drum
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This is a detailed view of the figures playing a carrying-drum on the eastern wall of the main chamber in Susahn-ri Tomb. A diverse array of drums appears in Koguryo-era tomb murals. In addition to the carrying-drum, a [horseback] mounted drum appears in Anak Tomb No. 3, a one-handed pellet drum is depicted in Tokhung-ri Tomb, and a Janggu (hourglass-shaped drum) can be seen in the Great Tomb of Gangseo. Standing and hanging varieties were prevalent in Koguryo as well. As a testament to the Koguryo people's love of singing and dancing, historical records from the era mention over 36 different types of instruments commonplace in Koguryo.
Three musicians and a carrying-drum can be seen in the image. The image depicts two people carrying the drum and frame on their shoulders while the drummer beats on the drum with a percussion mallet, concealed behind the drum. All three figures are wearing identical attire. The figures are wearing Geons (a type of ancient headwear that wraps around the entire head and tied in the back, similar to a bandanna) on their heads. Although Geons were primarily worn by valets or the lower-class during the Koguryo era, they were also used by nobility for hunting or other outdoor activities. He is wearing a Jeogori featuring Seons (accents on garments mimicking the black feathers on a crane’s neck or wingtips, influenced by Siberian shamanism) on the neckline, sleeves, and bottom hemline, as well as form-fitting trousers that provide high mobility known as Gung-go. Seons were essential elements of Koguryo-era attire applied to both upper garments such as Durumagis and Jeogoris regardless of gender, age, or social status. All figures are finished with clean, black ink lines, and a closer examination of the faces reveals a base sketch in red for a glimpse of the mural painting techniques used in Koguryo.
Bands generally appear in depictions of large-scale outings on Koguryo era tomb murals to raise the morale of the procession. Such bands are categorized into marching bands that performed while walking or marching and mounted bands that performed on horseback. Only a marching band appears in Susahn-ri Tomb as the procession depicted within is relatively small in scale. Although small in scale, the band is nonetheless a ceremonial band consisting of wind and percussion instruments.

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