history

The Korean ancestors attached much importance to military affairs and enjoyed horse riding, thus possessing skilful horsemanship in the period of Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668).

The Yaksu-ri and other tomb murals dating back to the period of Koguryo depict scenes of people on horseback hunting with bows and arrows tiger, bear, roe deer and other wild animals. This intensively shows the Koguryo people’s excellent horsemanship and archery.

They polished horsemanship through hunting and practised it through regular training in martial arts.

The Tokhung-ri tomb mural vividly portrays competitors shooting arrows at fixed targets on horseback. It shows four competitors, two referees and one scorer. Written on the right side of the mural are words reading: “This is a scene of an archery game on horseback in the west yard.”

Although the mural depicts only a scene of archery on horseback, the Koguryo people improved their horsemanship through racing, sword and spear wielding on horseback and other martial art training.

The Phalchong-ri and Yaksu-ri tomb murals from the period of Koguryo show people handling other tools on horseback, a high skill which was impossible without refined horsemanship.

The Koguryo people’s outstanding horsemanship played a decisive role in their fight to defend their territory and safeguard the dignity and sovereignty of the country and nation and it was carried on generation after generation.