Gaya Kingdom of Korea

Introduction section to Gaya Kingdom of Korea at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul

Gaya Kingdom of Korea

King Suro established Gaya Kingdom (or Gaya Confederacy) in the Gimhae area in 42 CE. In particular, Geumgwan Gaya traded iron with China and Japan via sea routes, thereby accumulating wealth.

In the 5th and 6th centuries, Dae Gaya and Ara Gaya established great powers. Pottery with Great King Suro inscribed, ornate gold works, and large tomb mounds were unearthed, suggesting that Gaya was strong enough to rival the Silla Kingdom and Baekje Kingdom.

National Museum of Korea's Gaya Kingdom Exhibition Hall

Mythology About Gaya

According to the Records of Garakgukgi (History of the Garak Dynasty of Korea) in the Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), two founding mythologies about Geumgwan Gaya and Dae Gaya have been handed down.

According to the Geumgwan Gaya founding mythology, from the heaven, a golden box containing six golden eggs came down to Gujibong Peak, and the people sang and welcomed it.

Ten days later, out of the eggs six babies were born; the firstborn was Suro, who became the king of Geumgwan Gaya. The other five became kings of the five Gayas.

Beginnings of Gaya Pottery

The Gaya Kingdom (Confederacy) used more advanced pottery technologies such as sealed high-temperature kilns and high-speed spinning wheels and made excellent grey-blue pottery.

Gaya potteries are characterized by mounted dishes with curved legs, diverse shapes of pottery stands, and bright grey-blue color created by high-temperature baking.

Potteries of Geumgwangaya (Gimhae area) in the latter half of the 3rd century include brazier-shaped pottery stands with wavy line patterns inscribed, mounted dishes with the mouth bent outward, and jars with two ears.

Gaya mud pottery

Burner and a pot adorned with animals heads (maybe deer)

Gaya Pottery in the Regions

Short mounted dishes with small square openings, short-necked jars with lid base, and cylindrical-shape pottery stands with its body adorned with long vertical bands were popular in Daegaya (Goryeong and Hapcheon areas).

Daegaya potteries were excavated in Namwon and Imsil areas beyond the Sobaek Mountain Range, suggesting that Gaya expanded its power broadly.

Horned Pottery

Gaya Period's burners

Also, discovered in Sogaya (Jinju and Goseong areas) were flat-body mounted dishes with long square openings in the stand and open-mouthed jars with horizontal mouth ends.

Aragaya potteries dating back to the 5th century include mounted dishes with flame-shaped openings, and cylindrical-shaped pottery stands adorned with bracken patterns.

Production of Iron and Ironware

Ironware is made from iron produced by melting iron ores and extracting iron.

Two methods are used for making ironware: casting wherein molten iron is poured into a mold, and forging, which involved heating and pounding lumps of iron.

Many iron weapons such as swords and spears were excavated from tombs; among them, swords with ring pommel and adorned with a dragon and a phoenix was presumed to be a symbol of boosting the unity between the ruler and political groups.

Iron tools including swords, scabbards, etc.

Gaya Kingdom Armors

The typical Gaya armors are plate armors made by connecting 20-3- large iron sheets, symbolizing Gaya warriors. The plate armor consists of the right front body, left front frame, and rear body.

The rear and front bodies are separable or are connected by leather and hinges to make the armor easy to wear and take off.

Gaya Warrior in full-battle gear

Gaya warriors' iron breastplates

Gaya's International Exchanges

Gaya Kingdom of Korea was situated adjacent to the sea. This geographical advantage and ample iron resources enables it to engage in trading with China, northern parts of the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and even the West.

Celadon jars with hen head-shaped mouth, which have recently been excavated in large numbers in the Baekje area, were also discovered in Gaya tombs in the Namwon area.

International exchange items (e.g., arrow-heads) collected during the Gaya period

The discovery suggests that Gaya Kingdom of Korea engaged in exchanges with not only the northern region but also the southern region of China, Bronze kettles and bronze washbasins imply that Gaya Confederacy been involved in transactions with the northern region.

The most significant number of relics were unearthed in Gaya's exchanges with Japan, such as shield ornaments, ritual funeral bells, jade arrowheads, and brown potteries. Also excavated from Okjeon remains were Western glass vessels.

Gaya People's Lifestyle

One can make out, in part, the Gaya Kingdom people's lifestyle through the articles and potteries discovered in tombs and domestic remains.

Gaya people are known to have eastern freshwater fishes, gastropods, shards, tuna, chicken, and other meats, as well as grains and fruits such as red bean, wheat, chestnut, peach, and walnut.

House items found in the tombs (shown is a container shaped like a house with animals climbing on it)

Gaya's burners and steamers items found near Gaya housing sites

They also cooked food by steaming and boiling them. Steamers were often excavated from the Gaya housing sites.
 
In addition, sandal-shaped pottery, chariot wheel-shaped pottery, and house-shaped potters excavated from the Gaya tombs give a glimpse into the Gaya people's lifestyle.

From Gaya to Silla

Unlike Gemgwangaya or Daegaya, which secured their independent powers until the 6th century, Seongsangaya in Seongju area, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Bisabeol in Changnyeong area, Gyeongsangnam-do were presumable place firmly under the influence of Silla early on.

Many of the gold works, harnesses, swords, and others, which were excavated from the major tombs in Songsan-dong (Seongju) and Gyo-dong (Changnyeong), are of the Silla Kingdom type, but the pottery culture is local.

Iron swords

Pots and steamers

Figurative Earthenware

Figurative earthenware is potteries patterned after humans, animals, or objects. Some have an empty cavity inside or a horn cup, allowing them to serve as kettle or cup.

Moreover, there are many potteries shaped like a ship, a cart, a horse, a shoe, and a bell, showing part of the people's lifestyle at the time. Some potteries are adorned with animals such as deer, horse, and pig.

Decorated earthenwares

Gaya's figurative earthenware was mostly excavated from tombs, suggesting that they were used for funerals. They symbolize prayers and wishes for the salvation of the soul for the dead and comfort in the after-world.

Personal Ornaments of Gaya People

Gaya people's favorite ornaments include crowns, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Of them, crowns feature a round base and a flower-shaped upright adornment.

The top and bottom round base areas have dot-lined patterns and dot-lined lattice patterns engraved, generally having round spangles suspended.

Some earrings have one ring, but others have three divided parts. Necklaces are mostly made of glass, crystal, agate, amber, and amazonite; bracelets and rings are also excavated, albeit rarely.

Gold earrings with various designs and decorations

Ornaments are not only intended for beauty but also symbolize magical power and social prestige, giving a glimpse into ancient people's mental world.

You can see more about the Gaya Kingdom's artifacts at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul (NMK). Find more about this museum and the guide on how to get there.
 
Thanks for reading and stay safe!

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