Korean Equestrian Martial Arts

We don’t know the exact time when equestrian martial arts back started. But we have the evidence that there might be warriors with archery, swords, spears and excellent horse in Bu-yo times. So we can guess equestrian martial arts started with growing horses from B.C.5-6 especially both for hunting and war. In three nations time equestrian martial arts were needed for fighting against various tribes from in land. Especially people of Goguryo accumulated sophisticated skills of equestrian martial arts throughout this long period. The ancient mural paintings, Su-ryup-do, which is in Jip-an hyun, gil-lim sung in China illustrate the impressive moves of warriors galloping on horse back.    We can find the traces of such abundant horsemen in the ancient mural paintings. 

  

MA-SANG-YO-DO

a type of swordmanship conducted with a relatively shord sword 

MA-SANG-PYUN-GON  

an equestrian military art conducted with a horsewhip-shaped weapon called PYUN-GON 

KI-CHANG  

a military art conducted on a horseback demonstrating spear skills 

KI-SA (horse archery)

archery skill on a horseback; required subject in recruiting military officers in the Chosun Dynasty 

KI-CHANG-KYO-JUN  

a match of fighting on horseback with spear; also a required subject for recruiting military officers 

KI-SA-KYO-JUN  

a match performing archery on a horseback 

MA-SANG-JAE

doing various equestrian feats

Horseback archery

Our race is a horse-riding race but now when we forgot about the culture, the fact is only conveyed as a story of long-long time ago. Although it is a land that belongs to other country named China, the forgotten land in that our ancestors were shouting commands over the continent on the back of horses in the past is now talking to us.  I wonder if it is saying that the things really forgotten are 'the things that we did not seek find.' by revealing the once brilliant cultural heritages of our ancestors that have been hidden under the ground of it one by one as if they are coming out of the mist.

1. The horseback archery in the time of the Three States

The human power has become strong in hunting and war after humans began to use bows and after the horses were bred, the wars became to have the aspects of cavalry battles, information wars and conquest wars in the fighting with other races.  The horse-riding race that had wide continent obtained food through hunting by horseback archery that means shooting on the horseback and executed wars also with horseback archery.

Beginning with the Muyongchong, an ancient tomb with wall paintings of the times of Goguryeo in Jian, Jilin, China, through the paintings in the ancient tombs such as Ssangyongchong, an ancient tomb with wall paintings of the times of Goguryeo in Anseong-ri, Yonggang-gun, Pyeongannam-do, the Anak number 1 ancient tomb in Sangsan-ri, Anak-gun, Hwanghae-do, the ancient tomb with wall painting in Dukheung-ri, Daean city, Pyeongannam-do, Number 1 ancient tomb in Jangcheon-ri, the ancient tomb with wall painting in Yaksoo-ri, Gangseo-gu, Pyeongannam-do, we can see the aspects that our predecessors were hunting deer and tigers running on horsebacks. Especially, there is a scene of horseback archery competition being held in the wall painting of the ancient tomb in Dukheung-ri which tells us that the horseback archery already positioned in the daily life in the times of the Three States. Also, the chapter of main record of Baeje in the chronicles of the Three States reads 'good at horseback archery' in indicating the bravery of king, Gye telling that horseback archery was an important criterion to evaluate feats of arms of individuals and that many warriors including kings practiced horseback archery.

In Goguryeo, hunting competitions were held in every spring and fall and the ones with excellent skill to shoot arrows on horseback who hunted many animals were advanced to the position of 勇士(brave warrior) and in Shilla, government officials participated in a horseback archery competition for the prize from king. The record of the customs in Gongju (孔州風土記) in summary of north fort (北塞記略) reports the customs of horseback archery that peoples generally liked shooting arrows on horsebacks and boys shot arrows running on horsebacks when they became 10 plus years old. Gongju is the old name of Gyeongheung, Hambuk. 

Especially, the drawing of hunting in the wall painting of Muyongchong, an ancient tomb of Goguryeo shows the scene in that three warriors are chasing tigers and deer forcibly pulling the strings of bows.

The drawing of hunting in the wall painting of Muyongchong, an ancient tomb

This drawing of hunting depicted a scene of typical horseback archery with horses running forward, a fleeing tiger and a powerful dynamic posture of a bowyer with forcibly pulled bowstring that seems like to be about to shoot the arrow and catch the tiger. Also a posture of a warrior who shot left handed with his body turned backward aiming at a deer running over a mountain appears there. This posture is not a posture of a normal horseback archery but a posture that a left handed warrior pulled a bowstring with his body turned by 180degree to the right hand direction to the side of his back aiming at a deer which passed him in the hunting. As such, the drawings in the wall paintings only show our ancestors' robust spirit and posture in the typical posture of horseback archery revealing dynamic nature. Like this, the motion paths of horseback archery include the direct line of 90 degrees angle to the front and 180degrees rotating radius of body for bowstring's aiming at the objects. That is, the line of sight of the warrior following the target can be found and the posture may be considered as showing an awfully excellent horse riding skill that enables shooting on horseback in any circumstance along with the dignified appearance of the warrior. That is, the sense of speed or power created when a horse with the weight of 250kg~400kg is running at full speed may have served a great pressure not only in hunting but also in wartime to the enemies. As such, it is considered that the horseback archery in the hunting in normal times was utilized a lot for live education of warriors.

Also, unlike the drawing of hunting, the drawing of horse-riding shooting game(騎馬射戱圖) in the west wall in the black room of the ancient tomb in Dukheung-ri displays the scene of competition on horseback. 

 The drawing of horse-riding shooting game(騎馬射戱圖) in the wall painting  in the ancient tomb in Dukheung-ri 

This drawing shows 4 players, 2 umpires and 1 recorder. As for the aspects of the competition, there is a scene of a player taking the lead who turned his body to left hand direction to make a right handed shooting. This posture is an action shooting to a passed target turning the body to the back side and shows a posture of very excellent horseback archery. Also a following player is shown with the posture of shooting left handed to his front. This drawing depicted the postures of excellent horseback archery that can freely use right handed shooting or left handed shooting presenting very excellent postures of horseback archery of our ancestors at that time. Also one of the players is shown as coming into the starting point of the competition and another one is depicted as practicing before the competition. As for the targets, there are 5 poles and among them, 3 poles on the left side have targets in the shape of a square box on the top. The targets are laid ahead of the player on horseback and thus it is indicated that the player who shot and successfully hit the target earned point to determine a winner.

As shown above, the warriors raised the quality and power as warriors by and body and spirit discipline through hunting and horseback archery competitions.

2. Horseback archery in the time of Goryeo

Succeeding the times of the Three States, horseback archery was widely done in the times of Goryeo too.

Horseback archery was a criterion to determine the excellence of feats of arms of individuals in normal times and an important pivot of national defense ability exerting great power in battles in wartimes. Also, from the work of king Gongmin of Goryeo, the drawing of going for hunting(出獵圖) and the work of a scholar at the end of the times of Goryeo, Lee, Je-Hyun (李齊賢), the drawing of a big hunting affair(大獵圖), we can see that the nobles in the times of Goryeo primarily executed horseback archery in hunting. Horseback archery is found to have positioned as a culture of nobles already in the times of Goryeo.

Horseback archery was also a criterion to determine the excellence of feats of arms of military officers. The series of biographies in the history of Goryeo expressed the evaluation of the feats of arms of individuals with the abbreviated phrase 'good at horseback archery'. This means that horseback archery was the foremost among the feats of arms in the times of Goryeo and was perceived as an essence of general feats of arms and that being good at horseback archery meant excellence on feats of arms.

            [History of Goryeo] Seo Hee/Seo Gong

Seo Gong(恭)was a great-great grand son of Seo Hee(熙)and he was courageous and resourceful and good at horseback archery thus became the general commander of the soldiers & cavalry corps of two borders (兩界兵馬使) six times and the soldiers willingly respected him.

            [History of Goryeo ] The series of biographies/Lee, Ja-Eui

Lee, Ja-Eui (李資義) greedily gathered fortune and raised scoundrels and regularly practiced horseback archery always saying ‘The king has become sick and may die at any moment and there are ones who watch for chances from outside so you should duly support  marquis Hansan (漢山侯) at your best so that the god's cavalry(神器) should not be transferred to another one's command.’ and he gathered soldiers although it was prohibited(禁中) with the intention to revolt at which time Sukjong knew this unnoticed while he was in Myeongbook palace after he became the duke Gyerim…..

The section of Lee, Ja-Eui considered cavalry as the most important part of military corps and as a powerful corps like tank corps of these days, a phrase is shown in that Lee, Ja-Eui wanted to prevent the command of the corps from being transferred to other person.

3. Horseback archery in the times of Joseon

The horseback archery in the times of Joseon is evaluated in diverse ways.

As a means of appointing men of talent, it was one of most important means to determine success or failure of examinees(擧人) in the military service examination(武科). 

In wartimes, with the fast movements using horses, they went deep into enemy's camp and killed enemy's general and horseback archery proved the power in chasing war. 

In normal times, as the criterion to evaluate continuous discipline of military officers, the feats of arms of military officers and palace guards were evaluated through horseback archery. The archery in the times of Joseon was as popular as the sports of today and competitions were often held and the military officers who were good at horseback archery were awarded sometimes. Also, archery competions were held on Sasin or Dano and this shows that archery took the position of a culture of feats of arms in the times of Joseon.

1). Horseback archery in military officer examination in the king's palace (武科殿試儀) and warrior appointment test(試取)

[True record of Joseon dynasty] dated August 15 of 26th year of king Youngjo reads ‘As for men of talent(人才), there are ones who have a lot of knowledge about the Classics and are excellent in literature among scholars and there are ones who are excellent in horseback archery and have a lot of knowledge about tactics among warriors'.

In the times of Joseon, all of the tests to appoint warriors ranging from Gabsa(甲士) to palace guards(內禁衛) included horseback archery and it was an important subject in military officer examination in the king's palace (武科殿試儀) too. As such horseback archery was one of the feats of arms that was essential for warriors. Gyeonggukdaejeon, Daejeonhoetong and military officer examination in king's palace in Sejong's five decorum in true record of Joseon dynasty contains detailed description of test of horseback archery. 

 In [Military officer examination in king's palace in Sejong's five decorum in true record of Joseon dynasty], there is a record reading ‘Because of poor control of horse, if a examinee shoot to right side holding the bow in left hand or shoot to left side holding the bow in right hand, he will get the point if the arrows hit the target. It means that an examinee in a horseback archery test could not control the horse well i. e. had poor horse-riding skill and he drove the horse to the right side although he should go to left side and shoot red target thus the red target was not in the way of the horse so he shot the white target in front of him. This shows that right handed shooting and left handed shooting were given of the same points, Based on these example, good control of horse was very important in horseback archery and shooting arrows left handed or right handed as needed were accepted.

2). Horseback archery in wartimes

Horseback archery in wartimes (戰時) uses the mobility utilizing horses and bows and in close battles, the cavalry corps may execute pincer attacks harmonizing with foot soldiers from the sides of foot soldiers and in making battle arrays, individual cavalry soldiers are distributed first around the battle array.

 [True record of Joseon dynasty on July 9 of the 3rd year of king Sejong] reads  ‘In making a battle array, if a whistle makes a sound in the center, the cavalry soldiers will come out from 4 positions in the back of the corps and will be distributed to 4 directions. Foot soldiers will stand with the interval of 6 cheoks from each other and the cavalry soldiers will have the interval  of 2 times of it.….' Thus the cavalry soldiers could kill enemy's general in a moment with the fast mobility and demonstrated the power in chasing war. 

The role of horseback archery in wartimes can be analyzed through the battle positions.

[True record of Joseon dynasty] On July 4 of the 15th year of king Sejong, Ha, Gyeong-Bok et. el submitted a book of battle arrays(陣書) pursuant to the order of the king. The content is as follows.

'When the foot soldiers go out of camps to fight against enemies, they are to go ahead altogether and stand with the distance of 10 steps from the enemies and the cavalry soldiers are to support them within the distance of 50 steps. If the enemies are defeated and flee, the drums and whistles are to make sound together and the cavalry soldiers are to go ahead and chase the enemies and the foot soldiers are to save the cavalry soldiers…. 

In making battle arrays, shields are to be arranged successively on the out side of each arrays and then spears and long swords, fire guns and archers, and then the cavalry soldiers with spears and cavalry soldiers with bows are to be arranged in the order of precedence….’

Considering the positions of cavalry soldiers in battle positions and the fact that the distance from enemies in fighting was 50 steps, the horseback archers seem to have used the tactic of killing enemies utilizing fast mobility and retreat to the back of colleague troops in actual fighting although they had bows to be used in long distance. The position of cavalry soldiers in the back was to utilize the fast mobility of horses and also was to block the colleague foot soldiers fleeing in fear. In [true record of Joseon dynasty] dated July 18 of the 4th year of king Sejong, there is a record saying that with the cavalry soldiers with spears and with bows arranged in the back, even the soldiers who are weak and timid will not turn around and flee. 

3) Horseback archery in normal times(平時)

 Because the horseback archery demonstrated significant power in wartimes, it was prepared thoroughly in normal times. Horseback archery was a feats of arms that any warrior had to learn without fail so much as civil officials were evaluated by five words rhythmical poems(五言律詩) and military officials were evaluated by horseback archery.(True record of Joseon dynasty dated September 25 of the 29th year of king Jungjong)

As the phrase in [True record of Joseon dynasty] dated March 4 of the 17th year of king Sukjong saying ‘horseback archery is a special skill of warriors’ tells, all warriors ranging from low grade warriors to military officials had to continually practice horseback archery even in normal times as a means to evaluate the feats of arms.

In true record of Joseon dynasty dated September 8 of the 29th year of king Sejo, the king ordered like this-’from now, one of each of the court nobles in ministry of war and the nobles in duty(都鎭撫) shall bring palace guards and 100 soldiers into back garden and execute horseback archery.’

Such horseback archery was often evaluated of warriors through Gwanmujae(觀武才) and Yeolmujae(閱武才) and excellent ones were awarded and the ones under criterion were appointed for services making the criterion of prize and punishment clear to encourage steady practice.

From the times of Three States and to the times of Joseon, the cavalry was considered as a powerful corps dominating the military power and the power lost the value after powerful western countries came into this country as all of the weapons were advanced. Also, the difficulties in breeding horses and the corresponding development of cavalry soldiers seems to have presented many unnecessary factors in modernizing means of military corps. Therefore, bringing the so far buried subject of horseback archery back to a modern competition may be deemed to be a very significant work. If restored to be suitable to the present times now when the traditions were lost, it will give us the opportunity to widely report our excellent traditional culture of feats of arms that has been thought as not existing and will have infinite educational value in the context of succeeding the spirit of our ancestor in this modern times and huge potential as a sport contributing a lot to creation of new culture in 21st century. Also, the potential energy of horse-riding culture is infinite.

Photo) Korean race's traditional horseback feats of arms-gyeokgu association is attempting to develop horseback archery competition into modern competition and activate it to become a competition in that all people cheer. Also they are attempting to activate it as an international competition including international horseback archery competition in that the peoples of the world can participate and thereby revive the spirit of our ancestors in present times taking it as a foundation of the opportunity to widely publish the excellent spirit of our Korean race.

The scene of the ground of horseback archery competition

Korean race's traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu association demonstrated horseback feats of arms including horseback archery in many places and stood in the spot light and horseback feats of arms revived as a culture containing history. Also through a lot of efforts in attempt to make horseback archery as a modern competition, it organized the 1st Hwarang horseback archery competition on October 10, 2004 in Hwarangdo experience tour complex in Youngrang lake, Sokcho and the 2nd competition on April 16, 2005 and the 1st international horseback archery competition & the 3rd Korea horseback archery competition held between October 1 through 3 attracted a lot of interest and praises and thereby the horseback archery competition implying our history and root was restored as a culture recreated into modern times passing over 2,000years time and space.

Now horseback archery competition will be developed to a competition in which world's people can participate altogether and will shine in the world as an excellent horse riding culture with live root of Korean race.

   The competition items are one shoot(單射), fast shoot(速射) and successive shoot(連射).

  Scene of one shoot competition

One shoot(單射): One target is installed and the point earned is compared. The point of 120m in competition ground becomes finish line and a target is installed on a midway point, at 90m point. The time to pass the finish line, the 120m point after start is set as 18 seconds for children and youth and adults should pass within 15 seconds and every 1 second of the over time will be deducted of 1 point.

Scene of fast shoot competition

(Targets are installed to be shot going ahead.)

Fast shoot(速射) : Two targets are installed in 120m competition line and the points earned are compared. One of the two targets is installed on 60m point facing starting point and 2nd one is installed to be shot in the posture turned around to the back side in competition. The time to pass the finish line, 120m point after start is set as 18 seconds for children and youth and adults should pass within 15 seconds and every 1 second of over time will be deducted of 1 point.

Scene of successive shoot competition
(A player is loading an arrow on the bow.)

Successive shoot(連速射) : Total distance is set to be 160m and 1st target is installed at 30m point from start line  and 4 more targets are installed with 30m interval in a row and the points earned are compared. The time to pass finish line, 160m point after start is set as 25 seconds for children and youth and adults should pass within 20seconds and every 1 second of over time will be deducted of 1 point.

In 21st century, the competitiveness of culture is considered as showing the criterion of countries. That is, the intention of Korean race's traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu association is to bring up excellent cultural human resource based on country's cultural heritages as well as to develop a proud racial cultural heritage with live excellent history and the root that are not inferior to any other one in the world and to raise the valuable and great cultural heritage to become the core of the field that will be felt and revived in the field.

 

1. The history of Mogu Mogu is a game in that one person on horseback goes ahead dragging a ball made of bush clover and wrapped with animal skin tied and one or more persons on horse back follow him and shoot arrows to hit the ball(毬). Mogu was developed in Yo dynasty (A. D. 947) and in Joseon, it was first played in Gyeonghoeru in 1424(the 6th year of king Sejong). On December 13 of the 6th year of king Sejong, soldiers and naturalized persons were invited to Gyeonghoeru, Gyeongbok palace to shoot arrows and a party was held. It was discontinued from middle of the times of Joseon, the times of Joongjong and restored in 1606(the 39th year of king Seonjo) stimulated by Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 and then disappeared into the history ending in 1631(the 9th year of king Injo). After that, it was restored by Korean race traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu association and was performed in 1998 and 2003. Although the data related to Mogu is very feeble, records related to Mogu could have been found in ≪Muyedobotongji≫ and ≪true record of Joseon dynasty≫ and it enabled the succession of the valuable cultural heritage. That is, Mogu, one of the horseback feats of arms in the times of Joseon was restored based on the records in ≪Muyedobotongji≫ and ≪true record of Joseon dynasty. The record related to Mogu in ≪Muyedobotongji≫ is as follows. Mogu is also called Gigu(氣毬). Mogu is a ball made of bush clover wrapped with leather and large one is the same size as a water melon. It is same as so called Gigu(氣毬). So called Gigu has one more loop on it and tied to a rope and while it is drawn by a person on horseback, others follow and shoot it with arrows without head. ≪Kumsayeji(金史禮志)≫ reads 'Shooting willow gyeokgu(射柳擊毬) game is a customs of Yo dynasty. On the day of dano, after the decorum of bowing to the heaven(拜天禮), the ground of shooting willow gyeokgu(揷柳毬場) is marked with pumpkin on tree branches and the bark of the trees aer peeled off up to 2-3 chi to become white. A person leads running on horseback and others follow him and shoot arrows without a feather and the head is put across.’ In Joseon times, in 1416(16th year of king Taejong) military equipment official(軍器監) was ordered to submit six large Mogu - on August 3 of 16th year of king Taejong Military equipment official was ordered to make 6 large Mogu and submit. In 1424(6th year of king Sejong), king gathered soldiers and naturalized persons-Olryanghap(兀良哈) and Oljeokhap(兀狄哈) in Gyeonghoeru, Gyeongbok palace and let them shoot arrows and gave the prizes of a horn bow to each of the ones who successfully hit the Mogu in all 3 attempts and thereby Mogu began to be executed in Joseon. On December 13 of the 6th year of Sejong, king let soldiers and naturalized person shoot arrows in Gyeonghoeru, Gyeongbok palace and served a party. Mogu is shooting arrows on horseback following a person on horseback running with a ball being drawn but sometimes the ball was shot by bows sitting on the ground instead of being drawn by a horse. ≪true record of king Joongjong≫ May 13 of the 28th year of king Joongjong King gave instructions to Jeongwon. On May 13 of the 28th year of Joongjong, king gave instructions about Gwanmujae. I already gave first instruction (抄記) about Gwanmujae in Mohwagwan. Horse back archery is to be done in two times and 3 arrows are to be shot and 3 spears are to be thrown. A small target is to be made of Mogu and is to be shot 5 times from the distance of 100 steps(步). Because there are many other skills to be performed, the small target is to be shot 5 times. Now, among the military officials, 10 of court nobles and under court officials are to be divided into left and right and each side is to be of 5 persons. But, since there are some with good feats of art among them, the Ministry of War should divide the shooting grade evenly and let them shoot the small target to determine win or loss. I will grant young horses to the winners so tie 10 young horses to pine trees nearby so that many people can see. I will grant a good horse(良馬) to the best person of all of the court nobles and under court officials(良馬). Since Mogu played an important role in the practice of feats of arms, it was tested when the army was being inspected and at that time, military officials and warriors including all generals along with Saboksi and Naekumwi were required to perform Mogu and excellent ones were granted of swords or bows etc. Mogu was steadily executed from early Joseon times for the purpose of training of soldiers but disappeared after the record in middle of the Joseon times, 1533(28th year of king Joongjong) and then executed again in 1603(36th year of king Seonjo) by the perception of importance of national defense arose by the experience of Japanese invasion of Joseon in 1592 but disappeared after 1631(the 9th year of king Injo). On September 24 of the 36th year of king Seonjo, king ordered the Ministry of War to test persons with skill. On August 24 of 25th year of king Injo, king observed feats of arms and viewed arrow shooting test in Seogyeo. Mogu is same as horseback archery in that the arrows are shot from horseback but is an advanced type in that the mark, i.e the target moves. Since the target moves, it was one of important feats of arms on horseback for the practice to exert power in hunting or battles. (Photo) Korean race traditional feats of arms on horseback & gyeokgu association restored Mogu based on literature and demonstrated it in the playground of Korean military academy in September, 1998 for the first time in modern times and executed 2nd demonstration in front of Heungre gate of Gyeongbok palace in May, 2003. The scene of demonstrating Mogu in the playground of Korean military academy Through the demonstration of Mogu that was led by one person followed by another person shooting it, the method that can be performed by many persons was adopted and became to be performed. With the cooperation of army museum, used the Mogu(restored one) that had been exhibited in the museum to demonstrate various types of Mogu. The Mogu used in the demonstration is the work of the bow and arrow craftsman, You, Young-Gi, the 47th intangible cultural asset. The material of the Mogu is made of wood wrapped with rabbit skin and the size is similar to that of a water melon.  Because the Mogu was heavy, it was drawn making the shape of half circle instead of straight line when a person led in front with the Mogu tied to the horse. Also, in May 2003, the Mogu demonstration was executed by the method that a person led and a person followed the ball and shot with arrows without heads and also by the method that a person led and 2 persons followed the ball and shot. The space required for Mogu is about 200-300m long and about 50-80m wide. Because the running speed of the horse is 12m/sec, fast shooting is required. 2. Making Mogu into a modern competition As the result of the demonstration of Mogu, the conclusion that it could be activated into a new horseback competition thus it was made into a competition being introduced of the concepts of sport. Mogu is divided into individual competition and team competition. In team competition, the teams are distinguished by the color on headless arrows in red and blue or colors of each of the teams in case many teams are involved. 1) 1 person Mogu One person draws the ball running on horseback and another person follows and shoots arrows to hit the ball. Here, the person leading in front may run straight or in curves based on the condition. The horse rider participating in Mogu hit the moving target by shooting on running horseback. The method of arrow shooting can either be forward shooting or backward shooting that shoots to the backward direction of 180degree after passing the ball. According to the location of the ball, the horseback archer should shoot in diverse way. Since the center of gravity of the horseback archer changes very often according to the location of the ball, he should be able to freely control the horse even without holding bridle. The scene of 1 person Mogu competition 2) 3 person Mogu 3 person Mogu is the basic of group Mogu such as 5 person Mogu and team Mogu.  It is a competition that a person draws a ball on horseback and 3 persons follow and shoot arrows to hit the ball. Because 3 persons run simultaneously on horseback, they have to watch others' routes and movement of the ball until they shoot the arrows. Therefore they have to be very good at horse riding and horseback archery such as hitting the ball in between the preceding horse riders and backward shooting skill. The scene of 3 person Mogu competition Mogu has been known through many performances in many cultural festivals in the country and approached to us by being recreated as a new traditional culture in 21st century instead of a forgotten history. Photo)Korean race traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu association prepared a cultural apace with living history and root and is guiding growing youths in group through education and experience.

 

Horseback feats of arms in Korea

Our Korean race has been succeeded with long history of five thousands plus years and excellent culture. Also it was a race that had the grand spirit of horse-riding race that had been running over the vast continent without any hindrance.
Especially, there are many traces of horse riding culture still remained revealing the robust spirit of Goguryeo peoples shooting arrows vigorously running on horseback that can be seen in the wall paintings in ancient tombs such as the drawings of hunting in Muyongchong, SSangyongchong and Gakjeochong, initiative of Goguryeo people who comprised the center of north east Asian culture area shouting commends over the continent and the courageous spirit of our ancestors who were practicing horseback gyeokgu.
Also, we can easily see that the spirit of Hwarang of Shilla which unified Three States was a historical result originated from the robust and initiative horse riding spirit.
But the brilliantly shining cultural heritages that had been accumulated since the foundation of the country confronted the crisis that the stream was discontinued amid the vortex of the history of recent times such as Japanese occupation by force, Korean war and separation into north and south Korea thus we are living in the situation that, although we are a horse riding race, it is not going too far even if we say that there is almost no culture or atmosphere that supports the fact. Moreover, in the merciless modern industrialized society, the necessity of characteristic virtues such as initiative, robust spirit and generosity that were owned by our ancestors increases even bigger. Responding such demand of the times, Korean race traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu association restored horseback feats of arms and gyeokgu and published in 1994 for the first time in the country and after that, has been promoting them through demonstrations in many cultural festivals.
We will not just stay on the level of the restoration of racial culture but will awaken the lost spirit as a horse riding race and the soul of race and enlighten our growing youths and the peoples on the spirit of our ancestors who were running across the vast continent and revive ambition of the generous and enterprising horse riding race and powerful racial pride.

1. The history of horseback feats of arms of Korea as reviewed by wall paintings

It is not clear from when the horseback feats of arms showing various feats of arms on horseback were executed. Considering the fact that renowned horses were already produced in Buyeo and there were soldiers using bows, arrows, swords and spears, we can see that there were cavalry soldiers using bows. Therefore, we can say that horseback feats of arms began around 5-6 centuries before Christ along with breeding of horses and especially we can say that it was used for both hunting and war. After it came into the times of Three States, the necessity of horse riding war was suggested during the fighting with horse riding races in the continent and consequently horse breeding(馬政) and fighting horses(戰馬) were required to be secured. Especially, Goguryeo perceived the importance of cavalry early through the fighting with northern races. Therefore, many records about cavalry and horse riding skill are appearing.
Wall paintings in ancient tombs show the shape of horseback feats of arms in the times of Goguryeo well. In the ancient tomb located in Jian(集安縣), Jilin(吉林省), China that is of 5-6th century, there is a drawing of hunting(狩獵圖). The drawing of hunting in Muyongchong(舞踊塚) is a scene that 4 warriors are hunting in a mountain shooting arrows. A warrior shooting an arrow is pulling the bowstring chasing a tiger and the scene next it depicts the aspect that a warrior turned his body to the back is pulling the bowstring to shoot the arrow to a deer present at the right back side.
Also, the fact that the figure of excellent horseback archery in hunting appears in wall paintings often tells how big the importance of horse riding and horseback archery and hereby we can see that the horse riding skill served a great role in wartimes. 

Figure 1-1 A drawing of hunting in the wall painting on the ancient tomb in Dukheung-ri 

And the drawing of horse house(馬舍圖) in the 3rd ancient tomb of Anak that is of 4th century already shows a horse house breeding horses. Therefore, we can see that horse administration(馬政) was executed.

Figure 1-2 the drawing of horse house(馬舍圖) in the Anak 3rd ancient tomb

Figure 1-3 The wall painting in the ancient tomb, Samsilchong in Dukheung-ri 

Not only appears the horseback archery(騎射) that is archery on the horse in the ancient tombs of Goguryeo but also horseback spearing (騎槍) using spears on horses appears there. There is a wall painting in the ancient tomb named Samsilchong that shows 2 horse riders fighting against each other with very long spears and the drawing of great array in the 3rd Anak ancient tomb and the wall painting in the ancient tomb named Ssangyongchong show horse riders following the arrays with long spears held in the left hands. Therefore we can see that horseback spearing(騎槍) was one of important feats of arms.
Above painting shows the scene that two warriors are fighting against each other running on horsebacks. The horses also are wearing horse mask and horse armor showing the heavily armed shape. The painting shows that the horses are accelerated and the two warriors are fighting also heavily armed with scaled armors (札甲). To look at the spears of the 2 warriors, unlike the normal horseback spear that has been known by now, the spears used in here are the type with ends split to two points. This type of spear is convenient for attack and is used to thrust and push away the things hooked at the end of it.
If the aspect of the fighting between the 2 warriors in detail is seen carefully, excellent horse riding skill is found from the posture of the warrior at the back who is fighting with the spear being swung without holding bridle on the back of running horse and the posture of another warrior who is running on horse back with his body turned to the back by 180 degree watching the other's movements.
Fighting on running horse with weapon in hand without holding bridle is possible only by the warriors who are skilled in horse riding and horseback feats of arms. Even a wall painting like this tells us the origin of excellent horseback feats of arms.

2. The records about the horseback archery in the times of Three States
The drawing of hunting in Baeje and Shilla is not available now. But from the fact that there are many records about horse riding war(騎馬戰), we can presume that there was a form of hunting executed on horseback. Baekje placed weight on cavalry and the record about this fact is found in the chronicles of the Three States「三國史記. There is a record reads as follows; In the 10th year of king Onjo(B. C109), Malgal invaded from north border in October. Sent 200 soldiers of capital city but they were defeated by Gonmichunsang(昆彌川上) of Malgal and climbed up the mountain Cheongmok(靑木山) to defend the boarder. So the king went out to Bonghyun(烽峴) himself with 100 elite horse riding soldiers(精騎) to save them and then the enemies fled. Shilla also regarded cavalry as being very important. So there are many records about cavalry found here and there. There is record saying: "In August of 8th year of king Talhae(64), Baeje sent military corps and attacked Wasanseong(蛙山成)(Boeun of now). In October, Baekje again attacked Guyangseong(狗襄成) so the king counterattacked the enemy with 2,000 cavalry soldiers and defeated them."
Besides, in the 3rd year of the great king Gwanggaeto(394), the king defeated Baekje's elite army by counterattacking them with 5,000 cavalry soldiers and king Anwon (522) also defeated the Baekje's troop with 5,000 elite cavalry soldiers.
In addition to above mentioned records, many data about cavalry in the times of the Three States are being found and  many records about cavalry are found in the history of war between the Three States.
In the wall painting in the ancient tomb, Tonggu the 12th(通溝 十二號) located in Jian, Jilin, China depicted the figures that a warrior heavily armed with scaled armor is running rapidly with a spear held high on a horse armed with horse mask and horse armor.
Also, this painting shows the posture of a warrior came down from the horse (heavily armed horse riding soldier) with an enemy caught sitting down on the knees holding a sword to hit the enemy. This warrior was depicted with scaled armor(札甲), neck cover to protect the neck and footwear with sharp nails and shows the typical shape of the battles at that time with reality.

3. Horseback feats of arms after the times of unified Shilla

Figure 1-4 drawing of king Gongmin's great hunting in Chun mountain(天山大獵圖)

There are some bricks(塼) remained from the times of unified Shilla depicted with the scenes that warriors are hunting on running horseback, chasing animals(塼). This drawing shows a scene that a warrior with a bow on the back and a sword in the right hand is chasing roe. This shows that hunting was popular at that time. In , there are many records about cavalry and all of Goguryeo, Shilla and Baekje regarded cavalry very important. But, generally, there are more records about cavalry in Goguryeo compared to Shilla and Baekje and also the time of record is earlier. Thus we can see that the horse riding skill was developed earlier and also the scale was much bigger in Goguryeo. Also in Balhae, the game named Gyeokgu that was hitting a ball on horseback was popular and feats of arms were practiced through it.  In Goryeo, there was a cavalry named Shingigun(神騎軍). In the 9th year of king Sukjong(1104), Byeolmuban was organized by the representation of Yoon, Gwan for the purpose of suppression of Yeojin.

Figure 1-5 Lee, Je-Hyeon, The drawing of crossing a river on horseback 

In this Byeolmuban, there are Shingigun(神騎軍) centered on cavalry, Shinbogun(神步軍) centered on foot soldiers and Hangmagun(神步軍) centered on Buddhist priests. Especially, Shingigun was a special corps organized to confront against the cavalry of Yeojin and anyone with a horse among civil and military officials, traders, slaves and ordinary peoples was incorporated into this corps. But because this Shingigun required each of the soldiers to prepare the military horse thus the sons of government officials took most part of the soldiers. Also, they were to be exempted from the military service so the military power was naturally weakened. When warriors governed the country, there was a cavalry system named Mabyeolcho(馬別抄).
Choi Woo had Mabyeolcho(馬別抄) practice horseback archery(騎射) every day and enjoyed hunting. Mabyeolcho refers to the cavalry in the times of warriors governing of the country by Choi family and was organized by Choi Woo influenced by Mongo. According to records, Choi viewed gyeokgu and horseback archery performed by Dobang(都房) and Masbyeolcho in his home. Mabyeolcho(馬別抄) was a special corps selected from cavalry. Byeolcho was the cavalry in the Choi family's warrior's governing times and the organization began from the guarding system. With this, existing foot solder troop had come to be furnished with strong cavalry. Besides, the drawing of hunting that has been known to have been drawing by king Gongmin in 14th century, "the drawing of great hunting on Chun mountain(天山大獵圖)" depicted a scene that a warrior on horseback was hunting. The posture of the person with a bow on the back hunting running rapidly on horseback is vivid. And" the drawing of crossing river on horseback(騎馬渡江圖)" of Lee, Je-Hyun is a sort of drawing of hunting depicting peoples on horseback going for hunting. Here we can see that hunting was popular succeeding the tradition of Goguryeo.

4. Horseback feats of arms in the times of Joseon
Came into the times of Joseon, horseback feats of arms appear in diverse forms such as horseback spearing, horseback dual swords, horseback moon sword, horseback whip stick and horseback archery.  The king Taejo of the times of Joseon was a person with prominent capability not only in horseback archery which is archery on the horse but also in horseback acrobatics. From the fact that in July 1362 when there was a battle with the army of Won dynasty, Lee Seong-Gye escaped the spear thrust by enemy's general by the motion of hiding on the side of horse can we see that horseback feats of arms were popular in the times of Goryeo. It is not clear from when the horseback acrobatics that is various acrobatics on the horse was executed. This also can be seen as a sort of feats of arms in broad meaning like gyeokgu. Gyeomsabok(兼司僕) that was established in the times of king Taejong of Joseon and served the role of king's bodyguard had the nature of cavalry. The examination for the selection of Gyeomsabok included horseback archery(騎射), free hand feats of arms(魔手)and archery on foot(步射). Also, the test of Gyeomsabok was executed in spring and fall and this involved horseback archery and horseback spearing(騎槍). Consequently, the selection or test of Gyeomsabok was executed in diverse way centered on foot and horseback archery and among the horseback feats of arms, we can see that horseback spearing, horseback archery, horse control plus simple horseback acrobatics were executed.
In the times of Joseon, horseback feats of arms had to be inevitably learnt to become a warrior or a military officer if anyone is a ordinary citizen not a slave because the military officer examination was substantially executed.
Because the military officer examination in the times of Joseon was executed over 500 plus years, there were many variations based on the period and especially there was big difference in the subjects of examination(試取科目) between the early period and later period. In the times of Joseon, there were periodic military officer examination executed every 3 years in the year of Ja(子), Myo(卯), Oh (午) and Yu(酉) and occasional examination termed Byeolshi(別試). 

Figure 1-6 The drawing of north fort (Buksaesuneundo) by Han, Shi-Gak 

In 1790(the 14th year of king Jeongjo), Lee, Deok-Mu(李德懋) and Park, Je-Ga(朴齊家) published Muyedobotongji「武藝圖譜通志」helped by a military officer Baek, Dong-Su(白東修) that involved 6 kinds of horseback feats of arms including 4 kinds of feats of arms i. e. horseback spearing(騎槍), horseback dual swords(馬上雙劍), horseback moon sword(馬上月刀) and horseback whip stick(馬上鞭棍) and 2 kinds of skills i.e. gyeokgu and horseback acrobatics(馬上才). Among them, horseback spearing, horseback dual swords, horseback moon sword, horseback whip stick and horseback acrobatics except horseback archery were systematically described thus we can see the aspect of horseback feats of arms at that time in detail. Gyeokgu and horseback archery also belong to horseback feats of arms in broad meaning. Along with horseback archery, gyeokgu and horseback acrobatics were covered corresponding sections in detail.                        [Muyedobotongji]
                        
Horseback spear is 15cheoks long just like long spear for foot soldier(步長槍).
In Ohyeeui(五禮儀), there is a record saying "The spear is 3 pointed. In current system, the handle is 10cheoks long and there is steel(冒鐵) at the end with round and sharp point."
In Munheonbigo(文獻備考), there is a record saying "In the 32nd year of king Sukjong(1706), Samgabsa(三甲射)was dismissed and instead established the way of horseback spear fighting(騎槍交戰)."{In Gwanmujae(觀武才) and Joongsunshi(中旬試), horseback spear is tested by 3 fights of 2 persons.}
The horseback spearing in military officer examination system(武科試取制) in 'Gyeonggukdaejeon' and that in Muyedobotongji are different from each other. Therefore, we can see diverse skills of horseback spearing.
In 'Mubiji', there is a record saying that Gyeongduk (敬德) avoided or captured the other's spear on the horseback.
From the part cited 'All of Mo(矛). Sak(朔) are  the kinds of the spear.', we can see that various kinds of spears such as Mo and Sak in addition to the spear were used on horseback.

Figure 1-7 Horseback spear in Muyedobotongji 

Figure 1-8 Horseback spear fighting manual in Muyedobotongji

Two persons stop the horses at the same time and gap(甲) drives the horse first and when it went about 150 steps, he turns around and Eul(乙) drives the horse and both meet together and raise the spears and fight one time and they pass by each other and when they arrived each other's starting point, they again drive the horses and meet and fight and repeat this 3 times. While gab and eul fight each other, the one who is defeated may be either caught, tied or return to the starting point.

 

Figure 1-9 Horseback dual swords in Muyedobotongji 

Horseback dual sword uses yodo like sword on foot. Yodo refers to the sword with wide blade and big bent angle to be used by one hand. Since the legs are fixed on horseback, the range of movement is small thus the yodo that is short with big bent angle is used to cut easier helped by the speed of running horse.

Horseback moon sword uses the moon sword(月刀) used by foot soldiers.
The length of horseback moon sword is about same as the distance between horse head and horse tail.
On horseback, a scimitar(偃月) or a eyebrow sword(眉尖刀 )(This is called 'eyebrow sword' because the blade looks like eyebrow and this is another name of narrow sword) may be used based on the situation. Scimitar is heavier than eyebrow sword but both have wide blades and long handles thus the use on horseback is the same. Scimitar is the foremost of the sword and there is a record that a person felt sorry that there was 36 ways of using it made by king Gwan(關王) but it is lost.

Figure 1-10 Horseback moon sword(馬上月刀) in Muyedobotongji

The whip stick used by foot soldiers is 8cheok long on whip part and has 2cheok 2 chon 5pun long sub whip and is 10cheok long in stick part and the whip stick used on horseback has 6cheok 5chon long whip and 1ja 6chon long stick. It uses inside skin of bamboo as connecting rope and colored in red or black.
In sokdaejeon(續大典), there is a record saying "As for Pyeonchoo(鞭芻), the examinee drives the horse forward and grab the whip in right hand and holds thrusting backward and then hold thrusting forward with both hands and swing it to left and right side one time for each side so every time he should hit one time then rapidly swing to left and right side one time. The distance between each of the 6 horses is 28 steps and the distance to the left and right side is 3 steps from the route.(Although Pyeonchoo is a method of military officer examination, this is recorded here because it is furnished with the posture to raise the whip and hit."

Figure 1-11 Horseback whip stick(馬上鞭棍) in Muyedobotongji

Because the length of the whip sticks was short, Keum corps soldiers were all defeated by first hit while they were confronting with enemy in Goyang(高陽) during the Chinese invasion of Korea in 1636 thus the diameter and length of stick are made to be larger and longer and  the whip is covered with square steel leaves(鐵葉) to take various strong points.

The history of Korean gyeokgu

Gyeokgu(擊毬) is a horse riding game that players hit the ball(木毬) using sticks named jangsi(杖匙) to the other party's goal. It has been done by military officials or by civilians as one of horseback feats of arms. This is called as ball hitting or stick hitting in civilian society and called Tagu(打毬)), gyeokgu game(擊毬戱) or play stick game(弄杖戱) in chinese words.
Gyeokgu has been known as having been executed in China from long time ago. A record in the times of king Sejong shows that when there was debates about gyeokgu an official explained the origin of gyeokgu that it had begun to be played in the times of ancient China's king, Hwangje and had been succeeded through chukguk(蹴鞠) of Han dynasty, gyeokhwan(擊丸) of Dang dynasty, Song dynasty and to Won dynasty. And he argued that gyeokgu was beneficial to the practice of feats of arms.
The first record about our country's gyeokgu appears in the record related to an envoy of Balhae went to Japan. And in the times of Goryeo, the record related to gyeokgu first appears in 2nd year of king Taejo in〔the history of Goryeo〕. The content related to Japan in「the history of sea east(海東歷史)」 written by Han, Chi-Yun (韓致奫) in the times of Joseon reads 'In 889, in the times of king Sojong(昭宗) of Dang dynasty, when Wang, Mun-Gu(王文矩), an envoy of Balhae went to Japan, the king of Japan invited him to front seat of Punglakjeon and help a party and at that time the king saw the Balhae's envoy playing gyeokgu and granted 200 duns(屯) of cotton.'
Balhae and Japan made active interchanges and envoys were sent in 35 times. Also considering the fact that the record about the envoy of Balhae, Wang, Mun-Gu appears in literature of Japan and the king of Japan who observed demonstration of gyeokgu made a bet with one of his subject, it is quite likely that gyeokgu was already transmitted to Japan at that time. The customs of Balhae is same as that of Goguryeo and Georan. Thus it is quite likely that gyeokgu was transmitted from Dang dynasty to Balhae through Goguryeo. It is not clear whether it was transmitted from the soldiers of Dang dynasty to who stayed in the area of Goguryeo after Goguryeo was ruined to former Goguryeo peoples or it was directly transmitted to Balhae by Dang dynasty. Sufficient possibilities can be estimated from all these facts and may be it is right to see that it was transmitted through various channels. They say that originally, a game named polo developed in Persia was transmitted to Dang dynasty through silk road and it became gyeokgu and was transmitted to Goguryeo, Balhae and Shilla. But the association between polo and gyeokgu in Dang dynasty, tagu(打球) is still not clear and general opinion is that tagu(打球) in Dang dynasty was transmitted to Balhae of our country and this was again transmitted to Japan.

1. Gyeokgu in the times of Goryeo

Gyeokgu became very popular after it came into the times of Goryeo when feats of arms were highly valued.
Especially, the kings or warriors in the times of Goryeo enjoyed gyeokgu as a game for play with divided teams to practice horse riding skill or feats of arms. In the section of September of the first year of king Taejo of 〈the history of Goryeo〉, there is a record that when the head of enemy in Sangju (尙州), Ajagae (阿字蓋) expressed his intention to surrender, the ceremony greeting him was held in the ground of gyeokgu. Since the capital was moved to Gaeseong in January of the 2nd year of king Taejo, Wang Geon, it was before the movement of capital and the capital was in Pojeongjeon(布政殿) in Cheolwon at that time. It is assumed that the ground of gyeokgu was in the area of Cheolwon. Therefore, it tells us that  gyeokgu was already transmitted to this country before the foundation of Goryeo.
Currently there is no related record about gyeokgu in the time of Three State thus it can't be known but we can see that gyeokgu was already transmitted to Goguryeo and Shilla from Dang dynasty.

On the day of Gyeongsin(庚申) in January of 5th year of the 16th king Yejong(1110), the king observed gyeokgu of Shingi soldiers(神騎軍士) at south pavilion(南樓) of Joonggwangjeon (重光殿) and besides, in September of 5th year of enthronement, have Shingi(神騎) play tagu (打毬). From this, we can see that gyeokgu was executed for the discipline of Shingi corps that was organized by the representation of Yoon, Gwan in 1104(9th year of king Sukjong).
King Euijong(毅宗), the 18th king of Goryeo liked gyeokgu very much and participated in the games in person and sometimes granted government positions to the persons excellent on gyeokgu. Consequently, a lot of records related to gyeokgu appear in the section of Euijong in 〈the history of Goryeo〉.
May of the 1st year of king Euijong(1147) "While the king was playing in north garden, he caught the ball and hit to boast of the skill of gyeokgu and there was no one who was comparable.

According to the section of "Choi, Chung-Heon" in the series of biographies in the history of Goryeo》, Choi E(崔怡) constructed a huge ground of gyeokgu(擊毬杖) in the 16th year of king Gojong(1229). Related records are as follows.
“He forcibly took hundred plus neighboring houses and made the ground of gyeokgu(毬場) and the distance from the east side to west side was several hundred steps and the flatness was like a buduk board. Every time a gyeokgu game was to be played he had peoples in the village sprinkle water to wet the earth to prevent dust from being generated. He again demolished peoples' houses and the demolished houses were not less than several hundred. He gathered Mabyeolchos of Dobang(都房)everyday and had them play gyeokgu or practice spear or shoot arrows on horseback. Choi E invited nobles(宰樞) and seniors(耆老) and held parties and observed gyeokgu in the ground and sometimes it continued for 5-6 days. And he granted government positions and prizes to the ones who were excellent on gyeokgu. Also, originally, there were 3 pavilions in the ground(毬庭) and Choi E added 3 of it and the construction began when it was dark and finished next morning."
Above records demonstrate the powerful authority of Choi family's political power and the huge and luxurious scale of the ground of gyeokgu. The record that the distance between the east side to west side was several hundred step refers to the track on that horse run and it can be known that the distance was at least 200m. On the other hand, from the fact that water was sprinkled every day, we can see that the ground of gyeokgu was soil. Also we can see that horseback archery(騎射) and horseback feats of arms were executed along with gyeokgu. Also, Choi E's son, Choi Hang liked gyeokgu too. "Choi Hang invited nobles(宰樞) to home and served parties and observed gyeokgu games. Here, Mabyeolcho decorated stirrups (footstall) with gold and inset leaves decorated with gold and flowers made of silk into the heads and tails of horses. We can see that splendid horse decorations were used and they were very luxurious. Besides, in the collection of works of Lee, Gyu-Bo, a great scholar in the times of king Gojong (1968-1214), 'Donggukesanggukjip' depicted the huge scale of the ground of gyeokgu that had walls of several ris(數里) long and the luxurious party place.
As for the times of large scaled gyeokgu attended by kings, it was not regular in the middle of the times of Goryeo, i.e. in the times of king Yejong and king Euijong. Therefore the times were quite diverse. But it was fixed to mainly May after the times of king Chungryeol going to the times of king Chungsuk and king Chunghye.
Therefore it seems like to have been fixed as a seasonal customs of the dano in May.

2. Gyeokgu in the times of Joseon

Photo 1-1 Korean race traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu association(Two goals gyeokgu)

The gyeokgu of Joseon times accommodated the gyeokgu in the times of Goryeo. Especially, gyeokgu was widely distributed as kings participated in the games in person and was adopted into the subject of military officer examination and thereby systematized. In true record of king Taejo, appear the introduction about gyeokgu in Goryeo times and the record of king's participation in person.
In the times of Goryeo, there was a customs in that young military officials and the sons(子弟) of nobles(衣冠族) were selected on every dano(端午節) for the practice of the skills of gyeokgu. When the day came, a temporary camp(帳殿) of king with the patterns of dragons and phoenixes(龍鳳) was installed in a broad road(九逵) and the goals were built up in the center of the road and the king went out to the camp in person to view the game. While a party was served and women's music(女樂) was played, all high lank officials and nobles(卿大夫) followed the king. Curtains decorated with silk bands(錦段) were set up on left and right side of the road and these were called color painted device(畵彩毬). Many viewers including women gathered. The clothes and decorations of the gyeokgu players were splendid and luxurious. So sometimes the price for a saddle corresponded to the properties of 10 families(家) of intermediary class(中人). Once   gyeokgu began, a gisaeng hold the ball(毬) and sing in front of the king(殿前), "The balls in the small warehouses in all gardens gathered here, all of Sagans(絲竿) and Hongmangs(紅網) shall raise the heads and match all the going forward and retreating backward to the syllables of the music". And then she threw the ball to the center of the road and then all players from the lines on both sides run forward on horsebacks competing with each other. The one who hit the ball got the point and the others retreated back and stood still.
Lee, Seong-Gye first got government position in the 5th year of king Gongmin(1356) when he was 22 years old and had excellent horse riding skill at that time. Especially he was very good at horseback gyeokgu skill along with horse riding skill. This record indirectly criticized the gyeokgu in the times of Goryeo being splendid and much too luxurious. Especially, we can see that gisaengs participated in the gyeokgu games to sing and executed the opening of the game. Here, the skills of gyeokgu such Baeji, Byee, Suyangsu, Bangmi, Jipi and Hoengbang were introduced in detail. Besides, there is a record about excellent gyeokgu skill of Lee, Seong-Gye. Below are original sentence and translated sentence of chapter 44.

No sat baorisil woo hee ni tisina, 二軍 鞠手 gitgni da.

軍命et baorieonul gyeotee utmagsini, gugyu(九逵) 都人ee da nolra ni

Interpretation: The ball was for the game, he hit it successively on horseback and all the players of both teams admired it.
It was a ball by the order of the army and he always blocked it on the side of his horse, thus all the people in the broad road were surprised. 

Photo 1-2 Korean traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu association

Preceding phrase is the content explaining that the king Euijong of Dang dynasty was very good at hitting the ball and he threw a ball in the air and hit it several hundred times thus all of the players of both teams admired him.

Latter phrase is the content telling that king Taejo was selected as a player of a large scaled gyeokgu in that king Gongmin attended for observation and demonstrated various skills such as chinimagi, utmagi thus all of the peoples gathered along the broad road were surprised.
Especially, the record of king Taejong shows not any less than 37 times of king's personal participation or observation of the gyeokgu. King Sejong also liked gyeokgu not any less than Taejong. King Sejong perceived the importance of gyeokgu and made efforts to distribute it doing it himself.

3. Basic postures of gyeokgu in Muyedobotongji

In『Muyedobotongji』, basic postures of gyeokgu were depicted in detail and testing ground for gyeokgu was depicted as a plan thus these are considered to be very important historical data.

Figure 1-1 Muyedobotongji Byee(比耳)

 Byee(比耳): At first, let the horse start to the flag(旗) and hold jangsi(杖匙) aslant to be parallel to the line between horse's ear and neck. This is called Byee(比耳). 

Figure 1-2 Muyedobotongji Halhyeung(割胸) 

  Halhyeung(割胸): Hold jangsi(杖匙) to be close to the breast of horse. This is called Halhyeung(割胸).

Figure 1-3 Muyedobotongji Bangmi(防尾)

③ Bangmi(防尾): Lay the body to the back facing to the sky and hold jangsi(杖匙) to touch horse tail. This is called Bangmi(防尾).

Figure 1-4 Muyedobotongji Baeji(排至)

④ Baeji(排至): Run on horseback and go to the place where the ball was fallen and pull the ball in aslant direction using inside of jangsi(杖匙) and hit it to the sky high. This is called Baeji. 

Figure 1-5 Muyedobotongji Jipi(持彼)

⑤ Jipi(持彼) or rolling the ball : Pushing the ball using outside of jangsi(杖匙) is called Jipi(持彼).  It is also called spinning ball. With the posture of Byee, turn to the left and execute Halhyeung (割胸) and then execute Bangmi.
And then go to the place where the ball was fallen and pull the ball and this is called rolling the ball(轉鈴).

⑥ Suyangsu(垂揚手): After executing Byee(比耳), raise the hand and hit freely. And then raise one hand high and put down another hand straight to show the shape of being proud(揚揚). This is called Suyangsu.
The actual movements of the motions of gyeokgu  shown in                       Muyedobotongji was revealed as being the motions to be incorporated to one by the long time study of Kim, Yeong-Cheol, the president of Korean traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu. These motions were the stopped postures amid a motion swinging the jangsi in a shape of a circle and the solution was found from the repeated lines that continued.

4. Gyeokgu in Korea and the group handing down it                        The Korean traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu association was founded on March 20, 1994 and it is studying, restoring, handing down and developing the horseback feats of arms that had been forgotten until the time they started the study. In 1997, the organizational committee of the year of cultural heritage designated horseback feats of arms and the game of Goryeo, gyeokgu as the work to be restored in the year of cultural heritage thus these were demonstrated on a round trip to all over the country and won applause from cultural communities. Korean traditional feats of arms &·gyeokgu association is a pure civilian organization and there is almost no support from outside thus is being developed on it's own. Especially, horseback gyeokgu is a game riding on horses and the unique flower of horse riding culture. As the games of gyeokgu, there are single goal  gyeokgu, dual goal gyeokgu, military officer examination gyeokgu, ground  gyeokgu and in palace gyeokgu

Horseback acrobatics in literature

Various acrobatics performed on horseback is termed horseback acrobatics(馬上才). It is also termed horse game(馬戱), acrobatic horse(曲馬) or horse puppet and 7 kinds of horseback acrobatics are introduced in [Muyedobotongji].

The first posture
Standing on horse(走馬立馬上)

Figure -Standing on a running horse
The first posture is called 'standing on running horse(走馬立馬上)', or 'shooting 3 hole gun(放三穴銃)'.
This refers to the motion to stand on a horse running into the enemy's camp shooting a 3 hole gun.

The second posture 

Horseback crossing(左右超馬

 

Horseback crossing-1                            horseback crossing-2
Figure-successive processes of horseback crossing

                
Second posture is called 'horseback crossing(左右超馬)' or 'left-right 7 steps(左右七步)' in popular name.
Cross to the right side of the horse depending on the saddle but the belly should not touch the saddle and the foot should touch the ground and then cross to the left side. This motion is repeated 3-4 times but the number of times may differ.

The third posture
Standing on the hands on horseback(馬上倒立)

Figure -standing on the hands on horseback

Third posture is termed 'standing on the hands on horseback(馬上倒立)'.
Stand on the hands touching the left side of horse neck with the crown of the head.

The fourth posture
Laying across horseback and tending to have died(橫臥馬上佯死)

Figure - laying across horseback and tending to have died 

The fourth posture is termed 'laying across horseback and tending to have died' (橫臥馬上佯死).
Turn around the horse rapidly and flip the body and lay across and tend to have died.

The fifth posture
Hiding on the horse's left or right side(左右登裏藏身)

Figure - hiding on horse's left side Figure -hiding on horse's right side 

The fifth posture is termed 'hiding on horse's left or right side(左右?裏藏身)' and called 'hiding on side' in popular name.
Execute hiding on horse's right side and grab sand and soil and throw being hanged on the top of feet with the head to the ground.
Then execute hiding on horse's left side.

The sixth posture
Laying to the back on horseback(縱臥枕馬尾)

Figure -laying to the back on horseback

The sixth posture is termed 'laying to the back on horseback(縱臥枕馬尾).                       
Lay the body to the back over the saddle and touch the horse tail with the head and finish. From normal posture of horse riding, lay the body to the back with the feet resting on the stirrups.

 

Figure - Standing on two running horses 

 

The seventh posture
Standing on two running horses(雙走馬立馬上)
Have two horses(雙馬) run parallel to each other and other postures are the same as they are in using one horse(單馬).
The horseback acrobatics using two horses can be seen as diversions from the horseback acrobatics using one horse. Therefore, various techniques as follows are possible.

•  (雙走馬立馬上) : Standing on two running horses

•  (雙馬左右超馬) : Crossing over two horsebacks to left and right

•  (雙馬上倒立) : Standing on the hands on two horses

•  (雙馬橫臥馬上佯死) : Laying across two horses

•  (雙馬左登裏藏身) : Hiding on left side of two horses

•  (雙馬右登裏藏身) : Hiding on right side of two horses

•  (雙馬縱臥枕馬尾) : Laying the body to the back of two horses

Besides, the content about horseback acrobatics appears in the poems of Dasan, Jung, Yak-Yong. He attended in a king's observation of horseback acrobatics and wrote a poem about the impression on the horseback acrobatics he saw. It tells the fact that in the 18th century when Dasan Jung, Yak-Yong lived, was the horseback archery popular thus the king observed it in person.

Horseback acrobatics in Yeonyeungdae
         Dasan Jung, Yak-Yong
     Like a hawk flying over the sky like a shot arrow
     A speedy horse runs like a whirlwind with the mane up
     A soldier standing on roadside watches it fearing of missing
     And catches it like a lightning and bounced onto it
     Stands up on the horseback with arms open wide
□ standing on the running horseback(走馬立馬上)
      Is there a winged wizard from the heaven aimlessly standing aslant on the high rail of Hwanghakru?
      Suddenly flips the body and hides down to horse side
□ Hiding on left or right side of horse(左右登裏藏身)
       Did the water duck dive into the water with the head down?
        Suddenly stands up and puts the breast to the saddle and opens the limbs
□ Standing on hands on horseback(馬上倒立)
         As if the legs of baduk board kicked by a drunken man faced
         to the sky
         Suddenly straightens the waist and raises the arms and stirs them
         □ Laying the body to the back on horseback(縱臥枕馬尾)
         Like the flags fluttering by the wind are going aslant through the forest
         Or like a fallen dead body hardened like a stick
□ Laying across horseback and tending to have died(橫臥馬上佯死)
         Or like a speedy money playing around
□ Crossing over horseback to left and right(左右超馬)
             Among the 18 kinds of feats of arms of Chuck family
             Only the feats to ride horses is inferior to that of our country
             The tactics in horse riding war also depends on horse control
             Performing acrobatics with horse and man in one
             This is the skill of horse control
             There is nothing we can't do in the world if we practice
             They succeeded in even in long bar feat and tightrope feat          
             Bur in the fight you should use novel weapons
             Confronting without weapon with acrobatics will not do
             any good      
             You always should wear armor and carry long spear
              Only then your feats will be useful

2. Horseback acrobatics of Korea

Photo 1-1 Korean race traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu
          association's demonstration of horseback acrobatics
          The 8th horse racing culture festival

In 'the 8th horse racing culture festival organized by Korea Racing Association, traditional horseback feats of arms, gyeokgu and horseback acrobatics were performed as a part of the festival.
Horseback feats of arms and gyeokgu had been performed in many places and known through many media reports by then but the horseback acrobatics was performed for the first time thus attracted a lot of attention

Photo 1-2 Korean race traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu
          association's horseback waist sword and hiding on horse side 

Figure 1-1 National central museum   The drawing of horseback acrobatics(馬上才圖) of communication agency in the times of Joseon

Horseback acrobatics is currently being performed by many performers in many places in the world but those are considered to be a sort of acrobatics named circus. The horseback acrobatics in Korea was the skill to kill enemies by approaching them avoiding their spears, arrows or swords in the past but as the times changed, it developed to the form of acrobatics performed on horseback and there are many records being conveyed showing that in the times of Joseon, the performers went to Japan as members of Joseon communication agency group and demonstrated it.
The items performed in the 8th Horse racing culture festival for the first time were laying the body to the back of horseback, Hiding on the side of horse and Crossing over the horseback that incorporated horseback feats of arms into horseback acrobatics.

Photo 1-3 Korean race traditional horseback feats of arms & gyeokgu
          association hiding on the side of horse