Bongdeokri 1hobun Chulto Geumdongsinbal, Gochang

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2124

Category

Craft

Designated year

2021

Location

전주시, 전북특별자치도— 전라북도 전주시 완산구 쑥고개로 249 (효자동2가, 국립전주박물관)

Coordinates

35.816700, 127.099000Museum-based location

This English description was machine-translated and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the original Korean text for details.

The Gochang Bongdeokri Number-One Tomb Gold-Bronze Shoes discovered from the fourth stone chamber of the largest-scale mound tomb among four large earthen-mound graves at Bongdeokri in Gochang, Jeollabuk Province were excavated in 2009 by Wonkwang University's Mahan-Baekje Culture Research Institute. The fourth stone chamber, never looted, contained a pair of gold-bronze shoes placed on the tomb owner's feet, excavated in nearly undamaged condition. These ceremonial shoes, used during funeral rites, represent typical Baekje-era form and design in metalcraft. The overall shoe form features an ankle collar with pointed upturned front section, flat center sole, and slightly narrowed rounded back resembling boat shape. Hexagonal-frame perforated decorative sections contain elaborate dragon, human-faced bird-bodied creatures, dual-bird designs, mythical beasts, and lotus flowers. The shoe sole features eighteen regularly-spaced protruding nails measuring one point seven centimeters high, with silk fabric internally applied. The Gochang Bongdeokri Number-One Tomb gold-bronze shoes represent the most complete surviving example among approximately nineteen known Three-Kingdoms period gold-bronze shoes from ancient tombs. Compared to shoes discovered at Naju Jeongchon Tomb, fish-egg pattern and other early Three-Kingdoms period designs confirm earlier manufacturing, indicating predecessor to the Naju examples and pre-dating Muryeong Wang's mausoleum royal footwear. Matching royal footwear and consort footwear characteristics of Muryeong Wang's mausoleum gold-bronze shoes—comprising base plates, left-right side panels, and ankle collar plates connected by small nails with perforated designs and linear details—these Gochang shoes exemplify typical Baekje gold-bronze shoe characteristics featuring sole spike-nailing, indicating creation by Baekje's central authorities to display royal power while elevating local rulers' prestige through 'power-display items' distribution to provincial influential leaders. The Gochang Bongdeokri Number-One Tomb gold-bronze shoes merit treasure designation as ceremonial Baekje-era gold-bronze footwear preserving rare original condition from excavation, representing important ancient metalcraft, demonstrating superior diverse craft techniques, and serving as fifth-century Baekje art representative work meriting treasure preservation.

Location