Korean archaeologists recently unearthed the partially mummified remains of Eung-tae, a male member of an ancient clan, from a tomb dating back to the mid to late 1500s. Among the discoveries was a burial note written on hemp paper, wrapped around sandals made from hemp and human hair. Upon opening the paper, the team found inscriptions such as “with my hair, I weave this” and “before you were even able to wear it.” The sandals, woven with human hair, were believed to be a symbol of love or hope. In an ancient tradition, a loved one would weave their own hair with hemp to create shoes for someone ill, as a wish for their recovery. This remarkable discovery links the archaeologists to a centuries-old love story, with references in Korean literature to the tradition of making hair-woven shoes as symbols of love and healing.
