A Study on the Function of Wool Matting

毛製品 깔개류의 가능성에 관한 연구 -아시아를 중심으로-

Matting made of wools has a history which gose back even before B.C.7000, the time which is believed to be the starting point of the fabrication, production and usage of wools by the nomads in the Western and Central Asia who had made the living by breeding sheeps. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the function of wool matting in Asia. The research period limited to 9C A.D. When classified by the method of production of wool matting, the pile method and felt method have been widely used by the nomads in Western Asia and the cattle breeding nomads in Central Asia consecutively. From ancient times, wool matting has been considered to be one of the necessities by the nomads for living in the wilderness, and even at present, continued to be used by the people both for the purpose of everyday use and decoration. Other than fore-mentioned purposes, wool matting have function that is expressed the incantation, authorization and hierarchy, emotion and desire, and cultural exchange between nations. In addition, wool matting had also been used as a mark to show ownership and for military purposes. Even a simple wool matting had a different symbolism and function by different region and people throughout Asia. However, by finding and studying further abut what wool matting had symbolized and how it had been used, the tradition and history of wool matting could continue to attract the interests which will make the tradition to continue. And also, in order for the tradition to continue, the utmost efforts to innovate and produce better quality and design wool matting to fulfil the needs of modern times are truly required.