Gold Waist Belt from Geumgwanchong Tomb

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.88

Category

Craft

Era

신라시대(5세기)

Designated year

1962

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 일정로 186 국립경주박물관

Coordinates

35.829387, 129.227912

Discovered at an old Silla tomb called Geumgwanchong (“Gold Crown Tomb”) located in Noseo-dong, Gyeongju, this gold waist belt consists of square gold plaques once attached to a fabric waistband and various decorative items -- made mostly of pure gold -- hanging from them. This rare ornamental item is known to have been related to a tradition of ancient times wherein people carried their precious ornamental and practical objects such as jade pendants, knife, medicine container, whetstone, flint, tweezers, etc., by hanging them on the waistband. When the tradition was adopted for the court uniforms in Baekje and Silla, officials wore waist belts of different materials and colors and with different numbers of hanging ornaments according to their status and position in the government. This particular belt consists of 39 plaques made of pure gold and has length of 109 centimeters, hung with chained ornaments as long as 54.4 centimeters equipped with a clasp used to secure its two loose ends. The square gold plaques are further embellished with tiny circular gold leaves attached to them with gold wires; most of the hanging ornaments -- 17 strings in all and in different lengths -- have a symbolic pendant at the end. Both the plaques and the hanging ornaments exhibit excellent workmanship.

Location