Friday 27 May 2011

Korean Carriage

Sedan Chair, Seoul, Korea

This card captures beautifully a moment in time as the group of men walk towards the camera the breeze or their speed fluttering the overcoats.  The overcoats are called durumagi a traditional garment worn not only against the cold but for ceremonial purposes.

The uses of the sedan chair (or gama) in Korea are summed up by Wikipeadia in a paragraph
"In Korea, royalty and aristocrats were carried in elaborately decorated litters called gama. Gamas were primarily used by royalty and government officials. There were six types of gama, each assigned to different government official rankings. In traditional weddings, the bride and groom are carried to the ceremony in separate gamas. Because of the difficulties posed by the mountainous terrain of the Korean peninsula and the lack of paved roads, gamas were preferred over wheeled vehicles".
I wonder who was in the sedan chair?  This is not a Korean card because they wrote on the picture side of the card from 1900-07.  Japan, France and other European countries produced cards in the 1900s based on existing cards.  So our sender had possibly not been to Korea but sends

Christmas greetings and a wish for better weather on 23 December 1907 from the southern English seaside town of Weymouth.

A card for Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by Beth of The Best Hearts Are Crunchy.

10 comments:

LiT Web Studio said...

this is an absolutely gorgeous card...and what a total surprise to read that it was sent as a xmas greeting! i so wasn't expecting that! happy PFF!

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

It does seem an odd choice to be sent from Weymouth to Staines, and for Christmas too! But a beautiful and interesting card.

Funoldhag said...

Such pretty colors in this card. Lovely.

Snap said...

Interesting card .. especially since it was sent from England. I've always thought Korean dress was unusual and colorful. Love linen cards. Happy PFF!

Dean and Lee Schroeder said...

That's an interesting postcard. Mine is up - My PFF Entry.

MuseSwings said...

We need these Gamas - gas prices are way too high. Beautiful card - I love the costumes and the motion of the scene.

Sreisaat said...

I agree with MuseSwings' comment. Manpower is a good substitute for the increasing gas prices! Kidding aside, that's a wonderful postcard.

Postcards Crossing

Heather said...

A most unusual Christmas greeting. It works though.

MrCachet said...

Thanks for including the information about the overcoats and sedan chair, and about the age of the card as well. Great image. I really can't understand why their hats appear to be perched on top of pointy heads, when I know full well their heads are just as normal as ours.

Lyneen said...

I too am surprised that this was sent as a Christmas card from on part of England to another. Thanks for all the information on the sedan chair. Thanks for sharing... Happy PFF!