Jangni cheonmado (Painting of Heavenly Horse on a Saddle Flap) from Cheonmachong Tomb, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.207

Category

Painting

Era

신라시대(5세기)

Designated year

1982

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경상북도 경주시 일정로 186(인왕동, 국립경주박물관)

Coordinates

35.835200, 129.224500Museum-based location

Pictures that include birds and animals are called yeongmohwa in Korean. This picture is one of them, which was excavated in 1973 from the Cheonmachong Tomb located in Ancient Tombs of Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju. This picture of a white flying horse was drawn on the mudguard flap (75cm X 53cm / 6 mm) made of birch bark that hangs down from the saddle, which was produced during the 5∼6 century Silla Era. This flap for mudguard was made of the layers of birch bark hemstitched with leather. In the center there is a white horse flying into the sky ornamented with patterns of bindweeds on all sides, which is mostly colored in brown, red, white, and black. Looking at the flying white horse further in detail, the tail is turned upward, each of the four legs has projected ring-shaped hook, and the lips have the tongue darted out. We get some holy spirit from the White Horse flying with the mission of carrying the dead people to the heaven. This picture seems to have followed the same pattern of the mural paintings that can be found in ancient tombs of the Goguryeo Era, and it is considered as the most valuable and unique one that represents Silla paintings.

Location