log coffin at the National Museum of Korea

pen, pencil, 19.5 x 25.5 cm

pen watercolor, 14 x 19 cm

Two weeks ago I visited the National Museum of Korea located at Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Among lots of cultural assets the above log coffin was impressive. After sketching it with pen I washed with watercolor at home. According to informations at internet it was excavated on 1988 at Dahori, Changweon located at the center of southern part of peninsula. It was under the ruling periods of Byeonhan, Gaha kingdom(1C - 5C). The reason why the log coffin has been preserved in good condition was that the excavated area was swampy near the Junam reservoir at downstream of Nagdong River. Marsh could keep those coffins not damaged. The Museum excavated the area of ancient tombs for eight times and found bronze and iron swords, ax, coins, writing brush, etc. The museum opened the coffin on 2008 after 20 years' preservation treatment with the international symposium. It was assumed that the log with 90 cm round, aged more than 300 years was used and the person in the tomb would belong to the ruling class according to the burial goods. I went the museum yesterday again and sketched once more feeling as if I have just arrived in a time machine passing over 20 centuries.