흉노 마구와 마차

Abstract

For the elderly, a horse is in an important position since it is a main means of transportation for a long distance and utilized as a key weapon in the war. According to the importance of the horse like this, harnesses take up a considerable proportion of the objects excavated from Xiongnu’s graves in Mongolia. Harnesses are excavated from both small graves for the general class and tombs called graves for the aristocratic class, while the carriages are excavated only from the tombs. The carriages excavated intact from the tombs mostly are glamorous carriages presumed to be used for ceremonies and events, which have been discovered in No. 20 at Noyon-Uul, No. 20 at Gol. Mod, No. 1 at Gol. Mod- Ⅱ, and No. 2-4 at Duurlig Nars. In the squared wagon with two wheels, on which a person rode or a cargo was loaded and an awning, that is, a sunshade, covered on it, were found. Through this, it is noted that there was a custom in which a carriage was buried with the buried in Xiongnu. Also, it is understood that burying a carriage was a custom very prevalent in the middle-to-upper class of the society of Xiongnu, most of which are intensively found in the graves of the aristocratic class. Mostly, one carriage is buried together in one grave; while in No. 1 at Gol. Mod, two carriages were found, and in No. 1 at Gol. Mod-Ⅱ, one intact carriage and bronze and iron carriage parts for about 10 carriages were found. Of the parts excavated from No. 1 at Gol. Mod-Ⅱ. In addition, the unicorn-like mythic animal represents the owner of the grave or is considered an object of the expression of the symbol of a clan. Through this, the carriages excavated from the graves of the aristocratic class were interpreted as those presented by the Han Dynasty of China; however, this study would suggest the possibility that wagons and carriages were produced by Xiongnu itself.