Military Dance in the Mural painting of Koguryo Kingdom

Military dances are based on martial arts training and military practices. Military dances were widely prevalent not only in the army camp of Koguryo Kingdom but also in the daily lives of the people including folk holidays. The Koguryo people regarded it as their duty to attach importance to military affairs and to educate martial arts themselves.

Their ardent patriotism and militaristic martial spirit were reflected in their lives and emotions. Dance naturally became a military dance which reflected the strong spirit of the anti-aggression struggle. The people of Koguryo danced military dance a lot, because the active physical exercises of the martial arts training process were conformed to the dance interpretation.

The Koguryo people’s military dances included a sword dance. The sword dance of the Koguryo people who had constantly developed their swordplay and martial arts, and competed with one another, is well evidenced by the mural paintings in the tombs of the Koguryo Kingdom. The murals of the Mausoleum of King Kogukwon and the Mausoleum of Phalkchong-ri vividly depict the dancer dancing with a sword. The sword dances depicted of the Mausoleum of King Kogukwon and the Mausoleum of Phalkchong-ri show that the soldiers had danced by their appearance.

The Koguryo people’s military dances also include the spear dance. The spear dance can be found in the murals of the Mausoleum of King Kogukwon and the two-pillar tombs. By virtue of the spear dances in the mural paintings in the tombs of the Koguryo Kingdom, we can find out the liberal military dances with the spears skilfully handled.

The Koguryo people’s military dances also include the bow dance. The bow and spear dance is depicted in the procession of the mural painting of the mausoleum of King Kogukwon with a sword. The hand martial arts are also painted in the mural painting of the mausoleum of King Kogukwon. This shows that the hand martial arts were also reflected in their dance movements. Although the paintings of the military dances of the Koguryo people were depicted in the graves of the ruling classes, but it can be seen that all of them were military dances of the people because they attired themselves in ordinary soldiers’ uniform.