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Golden Ornamental Halberd

Joseon Dynasty

National Palace Museum of Korea

National Palace Museum of Korea
Seoul, South Korea

A wooden sculpture of a dragon holding an ax in its mouth was gilded and placed on the pole to make this ceremonial halberd. Halberd with a dragon holding a cylinder of bat-shaped blades in its mouth also exits. The same-shaped silver halberd eunwolbu was also used. Wol refers to a large ax with a single blade while bu means a small ax. The divine emperor would bestow wol to a general, implying that he would entrust the general with full authority.
This halberd was made by gilding a wooden sculpture of a dragon holding an ax in its mouth and putting a pole into place, for ceremonial use. Other similar designs depict a dragon holding a cylinder on which a number of blades decorated with bat designs are placed. It was used with the same-shaped eunwolbu or a silver ornamental halberd. Wol refers to a large ax with a single bit while bu means a small ax. The divine emperor would give wol to the general, which implied that he would entrust the general with full power.

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  • Title: Golden Ornamental Halberd
  • Date Created: Joseon Dynasty
  • Rights: National palace museum of Korea
  • Medium: Changdeok
National Palace Museum of Korea

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