국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

Highlights
Gilt-bronze Belt Ornament with Monster Design
  • Nationality/Period

    Korea

  • Provenance

    Gongju-si

  • Materials

    Metal - Gilt-bronze

  • Dimensions

    W. 1.9cm

  • Accession Number

    Bongwan 10530 - 1

This ornament was excavated from Tomb No. 2 of Songsan-ri, Geumseong-dong, Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do Province. This metal ornament was attached to a belt. A quadrangular gilt-bronze plate is placed on a male mold engraved with a monster design, and it was struck with a hammer. The monster design of the male mold was transferred to the gilt-bronze plate. This design is found on metal ornaments, including those found in the Sochang collection (plate No. 188) excavated from Tomb No. B-1 in Sinbong-dong of Cheongju, and Tomb No. 39 in Jisan-dong of Goryeong in the Gaya area. It also appears on the leather ornaments for harnesses excavated from Tomb No. M3 of Okcheon in Hapcheon. Another example is the gilt-bronze belt metal ornament excavated from the Kaitsuka of Nagano prefecture in Japan. The distribution of these elements allows us to understand the cultural relationship between Baekje, Gaya, and Japan. In particular, after the period when Baekje′s capital was Wungjin, many relics excavated from Gongsanseong fortress and Muryeongwangneung (tomb of King Muryeong) had monster designs and designs made by means of a male mold. This leads us to believe that Baekje influenced Gaya and Japan