Northeast Asian History Network

Figure on the eastern wall of the middle passage (Maids)

This is a detailed view of the maids following the ox carriage in the Depiction of the Noble Couple’s Outing on the eastern wall of the middle passage. The two maids can be seen accompanying the First Lady's carriage with their hands held together in front of their chests in a position referred to as Gongsu (left hand placed above the right inside of one's sleeves in a gesture of respect or submission). Excluding the hairstyles, the two women are nearly identical in attire, colors, and footwear.
The basic attire for women during the Koguryo era consists of a Jeogori (traditional Korean upper garment), skirt, and underpants. Not all women of the time wore skirts as some maids that required a certain amount of mobility wore trousers instead. Koguryo era skirts featured crimped fabric similar to the modern tennis skirt, and the hemline was decorated with a Seon (accents on garments mimicking the black feathers on a crane’s neck or wingtips, influenced by Siberian shamanism). Skirts from the period were relatively varied with hemlines that reached the shins, ankles, or feet. Although all Koguryo women wore skirts regardless of class, the differences in status can be verified through the different fabrics and colors depicted in murals.
The Jeogoris and creased skirts seen in the image were typical attire for Koguryo women of the time. The necklines and sleeves of the Jeogoris feature Seons, and the shin-length skirts allowed for greater mobility. The maids can be seen wearing underpants beneath the skirts, and their pointed shoes were fashionable during the Koguryo era.
The two maids are characterized by different hairstyles. The woman on the right has her hair tied up in a bun indicating that she is married, while the woman on the left is wearing split pigtails indicating that she is young and unmarried. This depiction provides viewers with a glimpse of the type of dress and hairstyles worn by women of Koguryo.