National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Changnyeong is the area around the middle reaches of the Nakdong River, in the south-eastern Korean Peninsula and was called "Hishibatsu" in the Korean Three Kingdoms period. The area remained powerful and prosperous from the middle of the fifth century to the early sixth century, while under the strong influence of Shiragi (kr. Silla, one of the three kingdoms).
This openwork crown-hat was made around the middle of the sixth century. Its high quality suggests that Changnyeong was ranked highly among the areas that were part of or under the influence of Shiragi. Two ornamental parts, extending like wings, are attached to the central cap part with the openwork of diagonal lattice and dragon pattern. A narrow and long ornament stands on the top, looking like a feather. Both of the wing-like ornaments and the top one are decorated with swinging round pieces. As there are fragments of twill-weaved textile left on the inner sides of the narrow parts holding the wing-like ornaments, the inside of the cap part seems to have originally been embellished with the exquisite cloth.
Adding to this openwork crown-hat, numerous burial accessories have been excavated from the area, such as gilt bronze earrings and shoes, gold bracelets and a gold-decorated long sword with a ring-shaped ornament on the pommel.