Different Ways of Wearing Slender-Type Bronze Daggers According to Scabbard Type and the Meaning of Changes in Wearing Method

The scabbard types of slender-type bronze daggers can be classified into the longleaf type (Type A), straight-horn type(Type B), composite horn-moktae type(Type CI), composite horn-high ornamenttype(Type CII), composite horn-edge type(Type CIII), and lastly straight rectangular-type(Type D). Based on an observation of the entire length of eachsword when sheathed and worn, of the silk belt(絹織布帶) related to the wearing of scabbards discovered in No. 3 Quarry Pit of Jeongbaek-ri, in Pyongyang, and related data for the wearing of swords in Korea and other parts of the world, etc., it was proposed that the long leaf-type and the straight horn-type scabbards were worn by being inserted into the fabric belt at the waist in a diagonal direction, in the front of the body; that the composite horn-type scabbard was worn by hanging and tying to a burlap bag that was positioned at the front of the body slightly to the side or towards the side; and that the straight rectangular-type scabbard was worn by either of the ways described above. The position and method by which the scabbards of the slender-type bronze daggers were worn changed with the advent of the composite horn-type scabbard, and from then, splendid decorations consisting of fine linear designs, such as triangle patterns, long triangle patterns, lozenges, etc., began to be rendered onto the scabbards in earnest. It may be suggested that changes in the wearing method of scabbards were associated with the intention to reveal the enhanced decorative design of the scabbards. In addition, given that, over time, highly decorative composite horn-type scabbards come to be placed in upper-level status tombs with grave goods that greatly surpass the amount of grave goods found it other tombs of the area, it can be proposed that the production and distribution the scabbards had been overseen by the upper-level chieftains who reigned as the highest class in a given region, and who also possessed the scabbards.