[WIP] Summer Vacation

To escape the sweltering summer heat, Gim Inpyeong and Lady Yuri frequently visit the refreshing valleys deep in the mountains. There are majestic waterfalls, deep ponds, and lush forests - everything you need for a relaxing vacation. However, they first decided to undress in order to "beat the heat". Well, I suppose there are more obvious reasons for that.

Bak Yuri (박유리[朴儒理]) or Lady Yuri is my sixth-century Korean OC. She is a high-born noblewoman of Silla (신라, ancient Korean kingdom located in southeastern part of the peninsula). She behaves like a virtuous noblewoman publicly, but actually she is having affair with numerous aristocrats.

Gim Inpyeong (김인평[金仁平]) is my another OC. He is a high-born nobleman of Silla. He is a typical womanizer and playboy who enjoys drinking alcohol and collecting all sorts of luxury items such as clothes, jewelry, and imported goods. Many noblewomen, including Lady Yuri, are addicted to Inpyeong's extraordinary virility and visits his residence every night. But because he is also very good at sweet talk and social cues, he rose quickly through the ranks of the royal court.

Mountain valleys are well-known place for summering in Korea. Most people spend the summer in a particular place, as for a vacation or for cooler weather. It was customary for the king and his court to visit the summer retreat every year.

The golden earrings, bead necklaces, and bracelets are based on artifacts at the Gyeongju National Museum. The Roman glass ewer is based on the one found in the king's tomb at Hwangnam Daechong (황남대총). Hwangnam Daechong is a double burial of Silla king and queen around mid-fifth century.

The brass spoon and bowl were based on those discovered at Wolji (월지) Pond, an artificial pond built as part of a palace garden for a Silla crown prince.

Lastly, the food in the bowl is called Hwachae (화채). It is a traditional Korean punches made with various fruits. For this drawing, I used various Korean recipe books written around 17th~18th centuries, as well as fragmentary mentions of fruits in several ancient Korean chronicles.

The main ingredients are various fruits such as pear, pepper, cherry, peach, mandarin, and dried persimmon. Sometimes edible flowers, pine nuts, and ice are added as a garnish. These ingredients are soaked in a chilled beverage base. In this case, it is the magnolia berry (commonly called as 'five-flavor fruit [五味子]' in China and Korea) juice.