Geumgwan Gaya (Gimhae) 1. Tomb of King Suro 2. Tomb of King Queen Suro 3. Guji peak 4. Daeseong-dong - 1 -
Tomb of King Suro 1. The Secret of the Two-Fish Motif from India Let me introduce Queen Suro before we enter the Royal Tomb of King Suro. It is a widely held belief that Queen Suro was an Indian princess. It s very interesting to think that an international marriage may have occurred during the first century in Korea! Let s learn some more about Queen Suro. A clue that might help us to unravel the mystery of her heritage can be seen on the entrance gate of the tomb. From the center of the gate, look up at the top part of the left- and right-hand gates. Can you see the two fish facing each other? This motif is purported to hint at the origins of the Queen. Although there are different opinions concerning the origin of this unique fish motif, the predominant theory is that it is an Indian design and a symbol representative of Ayodhya in India. According to legend, Queen Suro was a princess from Ayodhya. She travelled to Gaya after her parents received a revelation from God that their daughter was to marry King Suro. Similarities between the motifs of the two fish at the entrance of the tomb and in Ayodhya are cited as proof of ancient links between Gaya and India. Actually, the motifs still appear on public buildings, on police insignia, and even on taxi number plates in Ayodhya. It may be coincidental that King Suro s tomb features a motif that is representative of Ayodhya, but it is surprising, nonetheless. - 2 -
Tomb of King Suro 2. Kim Suro Became the King of Gaya [Narration] The legend surrounding the birth of King Suro has been passed down from generation to generation in the Gimhae region. As befits the founder of Gaya, the legend describes a supernatural, divine occurrence. According to the legend, King Suro hatched from a golden egg descended from heaven. He was not a mere mortal! Let s learn about the legend in more detail. Before Gaya was founded, nine different chieftains ruled the Gimhae region together. One day, a strange sound was heard coming from the peak of a nearby mountain. A voice from heaven told the people to sing and dance to celebrate the coming of their new king. Many people heard the news and then they gathered on the peak and began singing. [Adogan & Yeodogan] Turtle, turtle, put your head out. Or we will broil you for dinner. [Narration] The head of turtle referred to here may have been a symbol of the king. But why did they use the turtle as a symbol? In ancient times, turtles generally represented male sexual organs. They represented fertility and abundance, which were crucial to the success of a nation. People believed that only a king descended from heaven could possibly manage all of the affairs of a kingdom. Thus the story suggests that the nine chieftains of Gimhae longed for the birth of powerful, divine king who could unify the region. While the people gathered on the mountain were absorbed in joyous singing and dancing, six golden eggs wrapped in red cloth descended from heaven. After a few days, a baby hatched from one of the eggs. He was named Suro, meaning firstborn, and later became the founder of Geumgwan Gaya and its first king. - 3 -
Tomb of King Suro 3. The Foundation Mythology of King Suro Numerous small kingdoms co-existed on the Korean Peninsula during the first century. The Gimhae region in the south of the peninsula was unoccupied until King Suro founded Geumgwan Gaya. The region developed into a powerful kingdom and flourished right up until the 4th century. We have now arrived at the Royal Tomb of King Suro, the founder of Geumgwan Gaya. There is a legend surrounding his birth. According to the legend, six golden eggs wrapped in red cloth descended from heaven to Guji Peak during the first century. Children hatched from each of the eggs, but the first born was King Suro. Foundation mythology of this type, referring to founders hatching from eggs, is common across Southeast Asia. For example, a Chinese creation myth refers to a giant hatching out of a large egg. These stories serve to emphasize the divinity of the nations founders. The story of King Suro s birth is one of the most famous legends in Korea. It was even the subject of a TV drama produced in 2010. - 4 -
Tomb of King Queen Suro 1. Princess from Ayodha became Queen Suro - Legend of Marriage This is the Royal Tomb of Queen Suro. There is a legend about the marriage of King Suro and his Queen. According to this legend, Queen Suro was originally an Indian princess. One day, her parents received a divine revelation that she was destined to marry King Suro, and so the princess travelled to Gaya and married the king in accordance with her parent s instructions. The power of destiny was strong enough to lure the princess to Gaya from faraway India. Although it is impossible to verify and is only a story that has been passed down through the generations, there is a clue that may support the legend at the entrance to the Royal Tomb of King Suro. At the entrance gate, there s a drawing featuring a motif of two fish facing each other. These fish are representative symbols of Ayodhya in India, believed to be the hometown of the princess, and appear on public buildings, on police insignia, and even on taxi number plates in the area. Similarities in the motifs of the two fish at the entrance to the tomb and in Ayodhya are cited as proof of ancient links between Gaya and India. It may be coincidental that King Suro s tomb features the motif representative of Ayodhya, but it is surprising, nonetheless. On the other hand, some historians insist that Queen Suro was not from India. According to the legend of her marriage, she brought with her many goods from China. - 5 -
This suggests that she may have migrated from China or have been a merchant visiting China. There s no way to conclusively determine the heritage of the Queen. We only know that she was a mysterious and courageous woman who travelled to Gaya to marry King Suro. - 6 -
Tomb of King Queen Suro 2. The Origin of Pasa Stone Pagoda Do you see the Pasa stone pagoda? It is mentioned in the legend about the marriage of King Suro and his queen. As the legend goes, Queen Suro was originally an Indian princess. Upon the instructions of her parents, she boarded a ship to travel to Gaya to marry King Suro. However, stormy weather and rough seas forced the voyage to be abandoned and so she returned to India. Her father gave her a stone pagoda to take with her on her subsequent attempt to reach Gaya. The stormy weather suddenly ceased and she was able to successfully cross the peaceful seas and marry King Suro. The stone pagoda was then kept at a temple in Gimhae. Local people often visited the stone pagoda to pray for their safety before venturing out to sea. The pagoda was believed to be the guardian of seafarers, as it had protected Queen Suro on her voyage. Unfortunately, there are no historical records concerning this particular stone pagoda. Although doubts remain about whether this structure is the same one featured in the legend, the hopes and desires of many dwell in this pagoda. Why don t you make a wish here? The stone may keep you safe on your travels. - 7 -
Guji peak 1. Birth of Gaya on Guji Peak [Narration] We have now arrived at Guji Peak, and it is the setting of the legend about King Suro, the founder of Gaya. This peak s name guji means a turtle s head and it derives from its shape when viewed from a distance. [Tourist] I see. What is the legend of King Suro? [Narration] I ll tell you briefly. Before Gaya was founded, nine different chieftains collectively ruled the Gimhae region. One day, a strange sound was heard coming from Guji Peak. A voice from heaven told the people to sing and dance to celebrate the coming of their new king. The news of the message spread and many people gathered at Guji Peak. They began to dance and sing in celebration and to honor the new king. Before long, six golden eggs wrapped in red cloth descended from heaven to earth. The first child to hatch from one of the eggs was King Suro, who went on to found Geumgwan Gaya in the Gimhae region. The word Suro means firstborn. [Tourist] What about the other five eggs? - 8 -
[Narration] Five men hatched from the five remaining eggs, and like King Suro, each founded a separate region of Gaya. As such, Gaya became a confederacy of polities. [Tourist] That s an interesting story. By the way, what is the dolmen over there? [Narration] The dolmen is from the 4th century B.C., and it consists of five or six supporting stones with a cover-stone lying on top of them. Look at the cover-stone. There is a phrase saying Stone of Guji Peak and it was engraved by a famous calligrapher. Now, let s take a look at the area surrounding Guji Peak. Shall we walk to the observatory on the peak? Let s stop and rest here. In front of Guji Peak are the tombs of various Gaya kings. The Daeseong-dong is located next to them. [Tourist] Wow! I can see the whole of Gimhae from here. [Narration] Indeed. But can you believe that some parts of Gimhae was under water during the Gaya period? It was covered by sea. [Tourist] Really! That s hard to believe. I can t even see the sea from here [Narration] I know. But when Gaya was established, Gimhae was just a mudflat, revealed each time the tide receded. Gaya s proximity to this part of the coast offered a geographical advantage and permitted exchange with neighboring countries by sea. Shell middens discovered in the region also support the assertion that the area was formerly tidal. These shell middens were simply piles of everyday rubbish, and most of them found in Gimhae were full of seashells from the mudflat such as oysters, clams and cockles. You can see related exhibits at the nearby Dongsam-dong Shell Midden Museum. Intimate Exchange Between Gaya and Japan Appeared in Legend Mysterious legends concerning the foundations of ancient kingdoms are commonplace. The legend of King Suro, the founder of Gaya, is a good example. According to the legend, King Suro hatched from a cloth-covered golden egg descended from heaven. Legends such as these served to emphasize the divinity of a nation s founder and to justify the authority of a royal family. Surprisingly, the foundation myth of Gaya closely resembles Japanese mythology. How are they related? Let s learn a little - 9 -
about Japanese mythology. Legend has it that the founder of Japan also descended from heaven and was covered in a cloth. Egg and cloth from heaven They are really similar, aren t they? But there s an additional point of similarity between the two myths. In the Japanese legend, the region where the founder of Japan first appeared was named kuji furu take, which means the peak of Kuji village. Both the name and the pronunciation of the Japanese village bear a strong resemblance to that of Guji Peak in Gimhae. As we can see, the foundation mythologies of both countries are almost identical. This fact raises a question about whether the ruling group of Geumgwan Gaya migrated to Japan during the early 5th century and influenced the foundation of Japan. - 10 -
1. Bronze mirror [Narration] The artifact we see here is an enlarged replica of bronze mirror excavated from the tombs of Gaya kings and nobility. The bronze mirrors of the time were rather more symbolic than practical. The people of Gaya believed that these round, shiny mirrors were imbued with the mystical power of the sun. They were usually possessed by noblemen and signified their authority. [Tourist] How can this be a mirror? I can only see designs on the surface. [Narration] Obviously, what we are seeing here is the back of the mirror. The backs of the mirrors were adorned with various patterns, paintings and scripts. [Tourist] What about the front of the mirror? Is it made of glass like modern mirrors? [Narration] No, no. Just like in ancient western countries, the people of Gaya polished thick plates of copper or bronze until they became reflective. After a thousand years, the bronze mirror has rusted and is in far less than perfect condition. However, it was originally the color of gold. - 11 -
2. Cavalry Knight Figurine [Narration] This figurine represents a knight from Gaya, a kingdom that flourished as a result of its advanced iron industry. Can you see the scale armor of both the knight and the horse? These are replicas of relics excavated from the tombs of Gaya kings. [Tourist] Ah, it looks similar to a medieval knight of Europe. [Narration] During the 4th and 5th centuries, heavily-armed knights equipped with iron armor and spears existed in Gaya in the south of Korea. Look at the armor of the knight. The scale armor, made by connecting separate iron plates in overlapping rows, was an epochal innovation of the time. The scales successfully protected the bodies of the knights from flying arrows. Compared to earlier single-plate armor, scale armor was far more convenient to wear as it permitted greater freedom of movement. [Tourist] The horse is also fully armored. That s interesting. [Narration] Yes. If a horse was injured, the horseman would be in grave danger as well. [Tourist] Wow, I m impressed! Gaya must have been a powerful kingdom with such well-armed knights. [Narration] Yes, it was very powerful. These cavalry in particular wore the most advanced equipment of the time. Thanks to its strong cavalry, the Gaya Confederacy was a leading figure in the northeast Asia region, as you can see on the screens above. - 12 -
3. Warrior Figurines The figurines surrounding the mounted soldier represent warriors of Gaya. Their features were reconstructed based on evidence supplied by bones and relics excavated from Gaya tombs. Although the warriors fought together on the battlefield, they each have a different appearance signifying different ranks. First, let s look at the warrior on the right. This person is of the highest rank among the four warriors. He is wearing delicate, luxurious and comfortable scale body armor, as well as armor for the neck, waist and arms to further protects his body. The warrior is holding a large sword in his right hand. The shield in his left hand is decorated with a pinwheel design, indicating cultural exchange between Gaya and Japan. Now, if you observe the warrior next to him, you will notice that he is wearing bronze armor, which signifies a lower rank. Bronze armor was not as effective or as convenient as scale armor, but it still offered significant protection. How about the third warrior? His armor appears humble when compared to the previous two. Low-ranked warriors would have found it hard to protect themselves in battle, but this warrior s condition is still better than the last. The warrior of the lowest rank does not wear armor or even possess a shield, but has only a spear in his hand. As demonstrated here, the armor available to warriors differed according to their rank. Their patriotism, however, must be the same. - 13 -
4. Wooden Chamber Tomb Diorama The dioramas explain the methods used to build wooden chamber tombs, the prevalent style of Gaya tomb from the 2nd to the 4th century. The wooden chamber tomb consisted of an underground chamber in which the dead were laid, accompanied by funerary relics. The tombs were usually large and as such were the preserve of the royal family and the nobility. The five dioramas at the front show the sequence of construction of a wooden chamber tomb. Let s look at the first step. When a person of status died, a large hole was dug and the base of the hole leveled. An interesting point here is that the higher the social status of the deceased, the higher up in the mountainside they were buried. Powerful men expected to have a great view, even in the afterlife. The second step consisted in building a wooden chamber. As you can see, the walls were constructed with wooden planks in a style reminiscent of a Finnish sauna. The third step was to furnish the tomb with a plethora of funerary goods such as pottery, ironware, and accessories. These goods were buried with the deceased in the hope that the person would continue to lead a life of luxury in the next world. Large swords or spears were sometimes placed in the tombs of men. Once the preparations for life in the next world were completed, the body of the dead person would finally be interred. Then, as you can see in the fourth scene, thick boards were placed on top of the chamber to seal it. The last step in the building of a tomb involved covering the tomb with a burial mound and holding funeral rites. Can you see the broken plates around the people gathered on the mound? The exact reason for their presence is unknown; however, broken plates are frequently found scattered around tombs, so they are presumed to have some significance. - 14 -
5. Wooden Coffin Tomb Model This restored artifact is a tomb from early Gaya. The wooden coffin holding the body of the deceased was buried underground. This style of tomb was common from the 2nd century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D. It is similar to a modern type of tomb, whereas the tomb we saw earlier was designed so that many funerary goods could be placed with the body. This is the reproduction of an ancient tomb excavated in the local area. When it was excavated, fragments of human bones were found inside, which enabled archeologists to ascertain that the tomb s occupant was approximately 180 centimeters tall. Let s take a closer look. Can you see the iron hat-band, the necklace of glass beads, and the bronze bracelet on the wrist of the deceased? In those days, glass beads were as precious as diamonds are today. The iron wares at the foot of the coffin were skillfully crafted products from the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. The presence of these funerary relics indicated the wealth of the deceased. As wealth and power increased in the kingdom, this style of tomb was superseded by larger tombs that became popular as people were eager to be buried with more goods, commensurate with their power. - 15 -
6. Wooden Chamber Tomb Model The small, single tomb was enlarged to the size of a small studio apartment. This exhibit is a tomb found in this region that has been restored to its original size and condition. These tombs were made by digging a large hole in the ground, and then constructing a wooden chamber to bury many funerary goods with the dead. The construction of these tombs required considerable time and effort, so they were usually the preserve of the wealthy and powerful. On the left-hand side of the tomb you can see a large variety of funerary goods, including various pottery wares, with a suit of armor, a saddle and a spear above the pottery, while on the right-hand side of the tomb you can see various types of ironware, including an ax and some arrowheads. Have you noticed anything unusual about the tomb? Instead of just one person, there were six people interred in here together. The people of Gaya used to bury servants with the dead. This served to maximize the distinction between the social classes and to boost the authority of the powerful elite. Although the servants were not buried alive, the custom was very cruel, and by the early 6th century it had disappeared. The servants were replaced by cattle belonging to the deceased and figurines representing humans, called tou. The deceased person for whom the tomb was made is outlined in yellow. Huge tombs such as this one became common in the late 3rd century. Prior to this, only small kingdoms dotted the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Later, Gaya unified these small kingdoms, and these large, elaborate tombs signify the power of Gaya s leaders. - 16 -
7. Duck-shaped Vessel These artifacts are earthenwares from Gaya. Do you see the unique bird-shaped earthenware at the end on your right? The vessel resembles a duck and was buried with the dead in a Gaya tomb. But why did they bury earthenware ducks in a tomb? If they were supposed to protect the dead, one might presume that sacred animals such as the dragon or the phoenix would have been more appropriate. The people of Gaya, however, believed that birds had a unique power to travel to the next world. Thus, bird-shaped objects buried in a tomb because they were believed to escort the dead safely to the next world. In ancient Andean culture, birds were also recognized as symbols of heaven. The condor, eagle and owl, in particular, were believed to be close to god. Nocturnal birds were thought to be related to death and the afterlife, and were believed to serve as guides on the journey to the next world. Let s look at some of the other earthen wares displayed here. The color and quality of earthenware is dependent upon the firing method. The reddish pottery at the end on the left was fired outside in an underground kiln. The resulting products were soft and brittle when moist, but able to withstand the high temperatures, so these vessels were mostly used as cooking vessels. We will now learn about the gray pottery that comprises most of this exhibition. Gray pottery was fired in a sealed kiln at higher temperatures. The firing method ensured that the clay particles strongly adhered to one another, resulting in hard, durable products. Preventing the influx of oxygen elevated the iron content and produced the grayish surface color. As explained here, the earthenware of Gaya evolved due to the advancement of manufacturing techniques. - 17 -
8. Ironware of Gaya [Narration] The considerable iron production in the Gimhae region promoted the manufacture of a broad variety of ironware, such as iron weapons, farming implements and horse harnesses during the 2nd century. During the 3rd century, Gaya s high quality iron was even exported to the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and to Japan. As such, Gaya was an iron kingdom and much of its strength stemmed from the kingdom s exploitation of its natural resources and from its advanced iron industry. [Tourist] I see. Was iron really so important then? [Narration] Of course! In ancient society, iron was a highly valuable resource and iron manufacturing was a high-tech industry. As iron farming tools replaced wooden and stone farming tools, agricultural production increased enormously. Furthermore, military power was also enhanced by the transition from bronze weaponry to iron weaponry. Thus Gaya developed rapidly based on its abundant iron ore and advanced iron manufacturing skills. [Tourist] Was Gaya the only kingdom with an abundance of iron? [Narration] Of course other kingdoms also had reserves of iron ore. However, their poor smelting skills limited their ability to extract iron from iron ore. The most advanced iron manufacturing technology used in Gaya was approximately 500 years ahead that of Japan. [Tourist] That s amazing. Now I understand why Gaya is known as the iron kingdom. [Narration] These iron ingots are representative artifacts of that iron kingdom. - 18 -
9. Iron Manufacturing Diorama [Narration] We can understand the iron manufacturing process employed by Gaya from this exhibit. Gaya s great iron production was not simply due to abundant deposits of iron ore, but also to its advanced iron manufacturing technology. [Tourist] So this place is like a forge. By the way, these workmen look busy working at different tasks. [Narration] Yes, that s right. Producing iron from iron ore is a complicated process. The first stage is smelting, the process by which iron is extracted from iron ore. Do you see the man sitting crouched at the end on the right? He is blowing air into the furnace to increase the heat to the temperature required to melt iron. Chunks of iron are produced by repeating the process. [Tourist] Ah, are they making iron axes or hammers? [Narration] No, this is not the end of the process. The chunks of iron then need to be heated and hammered. The workers to the left of the furnace are shown hammering the iron, and the process was repeated until pure iron ingots were formed. An iron ingot is the base material for ironware such as swords and spears. [Tourist] Um.I didn t know that iron manufacturing required such an elaborate, complex sequence of processes. [Narration] Initially influenced by technology existing in the north of the Korean Peninsula, the people of Gaya developed their own independent iron manufacturing industry. It was this process of multiple tempering that gained Gaya the distinction of being known as the iron kingdom. - 19 -
10. Model of Merchant Vessel This model depicts a vessel loaded with iron purchased by a Japanese merchant. Gaya s high quality iron was exported to foreign countries by merchant vessels. The largest consumers were Japanese as the iron manufacturing technology of Gaya at that time was approximately 500 years ahead of Japan s technology. The popularity of Gaya ironware was attributable to its advanced metallurgical skill. However, convenient access to a trade port also played an important role. Gimhae, located in the center of Geumgwan Gaya, was a major port city. Gaya simultaneously exported high quality iron to many countries, including Japan and China, and imported high quality products from others. Just as Singapore, the world s largest global transit port, does today. The port also functioned as a conduit for foreign cultural influences. Unfortunately, although many merchant vessels were built at that time, none have been discovered. The vessel here is a reproduction based on the discovery of earthenware figurines of ships from the period. The port city of Gimhae was a major transportation hub linking China and Japan and a center for trade in Northeast Asia. - 20 -
11. Bronze Pot, Shield Ornament These relics are foreign goods discovered in the former Gaya territory. Gaya was located in the south of the Korean Peninsula and took advantage of its extensive coastline to export its ironware and to actively trade with other countries. Can you see the pinwheel-like relics on the left? They are ornaments that were used to decorate the shields of soldiers. Many have been found in Japan, so how did these examples end up in Gaya? Actually, they are believed to have been a gift, and indicate that Gaya and Japan enjoyed close ties. The bronze cauldron in the middle was used by horse-riding nomads from China. This type of pot was usually hung from a horse s saddle when travelling, and was used to cook lamb or horse meat. It has been suggested that this was the original hot pot. Its presence in Gaya indicates that there was vigorous interaction between Gaya in the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula and the nomadic tribes in the northern part of the peninsula. In addition to these artifacts, Persian glass wares and unique bronze bells have also been found in the region. Can you imagine Gaya s bustling international port, filled with foreign merchants from all over the world? - 21 -
12. The Secret of Gaya Women What is the relationship between the portrait of this elegant woman and the scary skeleton displayed here? This image here shows the scientifically reconstructed features of a Gaya woman. Thanks to the skeleton on the right, it was possible to reconstruct the features of a Gaya woman of the time although no pictures or portraits were left behind. This skeleton was discovered in Daeseong-dong and if you look from a certain angle at the woman s portrait, it will overlap with the image of the skeleton. Now, let's look at the skeleton on the right carefully. The head of this woman is slightly long, a trait of an ancient Korean. Her features are slightly gathered around the lower part of her face, and she has round eyes and a somewhat wide nose and the area between her eyebrows is flat, but her chin is slim, similar to that of a modern woman. The woman's leg bones are not as strong as those of a man, but she was found to be quite muscular compared to other average women, which shows that she is presumed to have done labor-related work. And a basinet was excavated in the region around her head, which makes some people think that she was a "warrior of Gaya." In addition, evidence of her having given birth to one or two babies was found when her pelvis was examined. In this way, a great deal of information can be found from human bones unearthed from old tombs. - 22 -
고분동고분전시관 13. Sacrificial Burial Diorama [Narration] Can you see the people dressed in white garments lying around the deceased? In those days, the custom was that servants were buried with a member of the royal family or the nobility when they died. [Tourist] They killed people and buried them? That s horrible. [Narration] I agree it s beyond our comprehension. However, if you consider the culture and customs of Gaya society, it is somewhat understandable. [Tourist] Surely there is no reason that can justify the murder of innocent people. [Narration] I know, but as I said, this custom was only performed upon the death of a royal or a member of the noble classes. The people of Gaya regarded the king as a god and as such should be honored even in the afterlife. In this sense, to die after the king may have seemed natural. [Tourist] Um.I see. [Narration] This kind of custom was adopted by the hierarchy that formed in Gaya as it became a powerful kingdom. The tradition of sacrifice occurred in many ancient civilizations throughout the world, including ancient Egypt and the Mayan civilization of Central America. For example, there are over 300 royal concubines and slaves buried around the tomb of King Djer in Egypt. The custom of sacrificial burial did not last long. When Buddhism was introduced to Gaya, earthenware figurines of people replaced the actual servants and the custom was prohibited. After a while, it disappeared into the annals of history. - 23 -
14. Battlefield Reproduction Diorama [Narration] This diorama depicts a battle fought by Gaya sometime from the late 4th century to the early 5th century. It was the biggest battle in Gaya history. [Tourist] In the diorama it looks like a battle between small tribes. [Narration] The beginning of the war was fought on quite a small scale, as Gaya invaded the neighboring country, Silla. After the development of Gaya due to its advanced iron industry, it attempted to expand its territory. However, the neighboring country asked Goguryeo, a strong military power based in the north of the peninsula, for assistance. In response, Gaya requested help from the Japanese and other allied countries. The war then spread to other parts of East Asia. [Tourist] Oh, it reminds me of World Wars I and II. [Narration] It really was similar. This war is often regarded as the first international war in East Asia. [Tourist] Does this diorama describe the war before other countries became involved? [Narration] No, this scene depicts a confrontation that occurred between Gaya and Goguryeo over a particular strategic point. The war was the beginning of the end for Geumgwan Gaya. [Tourist] Gaya was defeated? Goguryeo must have been the stronger kingdom. [Narration] In this diorama, there s very little difference between the armor and weaponry employed on both sides. However, it was insufficient to defeat the large numbers of Goguryeo troops or counteract their highly effective military tactics. After Geumgwan Gaya was defeated in the war, it began to lose hegemony in the confederacy. And another allied kingdom, Dae Gaya, took control of the confederacy. - 24 -
15. The Daeseong-dong Tomb Complex Welcome to the Gaya royal tomb walking trail. This trail offers a view of the ridges and the surrounding excavated sites. The hill here was known as Little Guji Peak by the people of Gaya. Guji Peak, a small mountain peak nearby, is the setting of the legend about King Suro, the founder of Geumgwan Gaya. If Guji Peak is the place of King Suro s birth myth, this hill is where Gaya kings are laid to rest in peace. Many ancient tombs and various relics dating from the late 2nd to the 6th century have been found in this area. The highlights are the large tombs which were constructed during the 3rd and 4th centuries, the golden age of Gaya. The tombs on the ridge belonged to Gaya s powerful ruling elite, while those located on the nearby slopes and plains belonged to people from the lower classes. Why don t you take a walk along the area where Gaya people are laid to rest, and appreciate the history of Gaya? - 25 -
대성동고분군 16. The Secret of Overlapped Tombs No. 29 and No. 39, Outdoor Exhibition The outdoor exhibition consists of the original tombs of Gaya kings and nobility. Let s take a closer look. Do you see the three different sections divided by white lines? The largest area was built first and the two smaller areas to the right were constructed later. It looks like an ordinary tomb. However, this overlapping style is one of the greatest points of contention in the interpretation of Gaya history. Let s look at the first section of the tomb. This is the tomb of a Gaya king, constructed during the late 3rd century. As you can see, many funerary relics, such as two-handled vessels and iron ingots, were found here. Relics from the northern part of the peninsula, such as a bronze cauldron, were also recovered from the tomb. The second section of the tomb consists of two chambers. The larger area was for burying the dead and the smaller one was constructed to hold funerary goods such as pottery. The question here is why the two different tombs overlapped. Tombs were rarely intruded upon or violated because, just like today, they were regarded as sacred places. This was especially true of the tombs of kings. Some historians believe that it may have been the intention of the person buried in the second tomb to violate the first tomb. One hundred years later, when Gaya was attacked by the northern kingdom, invaders conquered the Gimhae region and are believed to have desecrated the existing tombs of Gaya kings. Conversely, other historians believe the tomb was accidentally intruded upon by a descendant of the king who wished to be buried in close proximity to his ancestor. As the area had a long tradition of royal burials, space for new tombs was limited. Still, we don t have any pertinent historical records about these tombs. The real reason for the overlap remains a mystery. What do you think? - 26 -