Northeast Asian History Network

Eastern Wall of the Eastern Auxiliary Chamber - Carriage House - Carriage 2

This is a detailed view of the second carriage depicted on the eastern wall of the eastern auxiliary chamber. This carriage is surmised to have been used by the noblewoman. This carriage has been preserved in an immaculate condition and is much sharper than the nobleman's carriage to its left.
The Gaemamusas (iron-armored lancers) depicted in the image can be seen wearing helmets adorned in extravagant feather decorations and Chalgaps (lamellar armor) made of small iron plates laced together. While the large-plate construction of Pangaps (laminar armor) limited movement, Chalgaps provided the wearer with a great deal of mobility due to the nature of this armor’s design. Although heavy infantry only wore armor on their upper bodies, the Gaemamusas wore armor on their lower bodies as well. The Gaemamusas' horses were also dressed in helmets and armor for protection. Despite the excellent mobility provided by Chalgaps, the sheer weight of the armor meant that these cavalrymen weren't nearly as agile as the infantrymen. This meant that if the cavalrymen fell from their horses, their combat abilities would be significantly reduced. Hence, the horses were equipped with armor to minimize the risk of such situations. These horses convey a sense of sluggishness in their motion in contrast to the horses of other military attachés. The artist's meticulous attention to detail is remarkable.
The carriage was depicted very precisely and is clear enough to recreate a real carriage using the painting as a basis. This depiction is considered to be an invaluable resource for understanding the material culture of the Koguryo era.