Ung Kol Pang a 14th century Korean treatise on falconry

It is not easy to fi nd out where, when and how falconry developed and spread into Korea. The oldest evidence for falconry in Korea is found on a wall-painting in the tomb of Sham Shil Ch'ong dating from the Kokuryo-dynasty (c. 5th century AD). In medieval times a treatise entitled Ung Kol Pang or Book on Hawks and Falcons was written by a government offi cial named I Cho Nyon (1266-1343). In this treatise birds of prey were classifi ed into hawks and falcons. However, owing to the lack of detailed depictions of the birds, it is not clear what kind of species exactly are meant. The Ung Kol Pang is devoted to the breeding of falcons and to the treatment of their diseases. As will be illustrated, the methods and therapies applied in medieval Korea are based on traditional Chinese or Korean medicine and folk remedies.

Posted with kind permission of the author Dr. Sun Chun Myung and editors Prof. Dr.Gisela Grupe and Prof. Dr.Joris Peters.