This research aims to understand the historical significance of the Korean culture in Kinki province through reviewing archaeological remains of ceramics, harness, oven structures, and burials. The paper investigates the shift of the main trading agen ...
This research aims to understand the historical significance of the Korean culture in Kinki province through reviewing archaeological remains of ceramics, harness, oven structures, and burials. The paper investigates the shift of the main trading agencies, based on the calendar years and exchange patterns of ceramics between the Three Kingdoms in Korea and the Wae in Japan. In Kinki, the ceramic styles of the Geum-Gwan Gaya and Ara Gaya were dominant during the 4th century AD. The ceramic styles of the Dae Gaya appeared in the late 5th century AD and that of the Yongsan River valley occurred in the early 6th century AD. The change of dominant ceramic types may reflect the shift of the main trading bodies and the social relations through time. Particularly, the pot of the Seongsukmun Tanal style, which was originated from the Yeongsan River valley, seems to indicate the trades between the royal families of the Baekjae and the Wae.
This paper also explores the processes of establishing Baekjae immigrant culture in Kinki, by comparing the structures with posts along walls and the oven structure. The square-plan tomb at the Nagahara site in the Kawachi region implies that this regional culture was influenced by the southwest Korea not by the central power group in Baekjae. On the other hand, the Kuzwa site represents the tomb of 'Baekga', an officer whom the central government of the Baekjae sent to Japan in order to construct the Askara temple in Japan. The Yamatonoayahito group in the Digatori region was probably the immigrants from the Baekjae during the 6th and 7th centuries AD. The group in the Oomi region left the tombs and small, portable ovens, which were influenced from the central Bakjae culture. The Chinese 'Han' style ceramics and the Baekjae-style structures with posts along the walls were found in the Tokai region. The Han-style ceramics was different in styles and the manufacture techniques from those of the Kinai region. These archaeological data confirm that the Baekjae people immigrated to Japan from the 5th to 7th centuries AD, and that they left the assimilated culture between the Baekjae and Wae.
The import of the harness to Japan probably occurred during the TK23 phase, as seen in the Miyayama tomb in Hyokou Prefecture. Previous studies argued that the early style of harnesses was imported from the Geum-Gwan Gaya due to its internal political changes. The style of harnesses from several tombs in Kinki, however, showed the influence from the Baekjae. They include the Okanokotou burial 1 in Kagawa Prefecture (TK23 phase), the Zhuyamashi-Ichitounishi Burial 3 in Okayama Prefecture (TK 208 phase), and the Ikejiri burial 2 in Hyokou Prefecture (TK216 phase). Both harnesses and ceramics from the Geum River valley point the influence and active exchange systems between the Baekjae and Wae. The trading between the Baekjae and Wae, connected by the group along the Geum River during the late 4th and early 5th centuries AD can be seen in the wide-mouth long-neck pottery (Gwangu-Janggyeong Ho) from the Geum River basin from the Deai site in the Hyokou Prefecture and the Nitounisi site in the Toyonaga City. During the late 5th century AD, the wide spread of the 'f' style bit and sword-style ornament in Japan indicates the import of the Baekjae culture through the Dae Gaya.
The main prestige items during the early Kofun period was the bronze mirror of the triangle section, while the iron armory became the prestige became the major prestige items during the Late Kofun period. The Geum-Gwan Gaya and the Wae was probably in close relations, as indicated by the Geum-Gwan Gaya artifacts in Japan and the Kinai-style artifacts at the Daeseongdong tomb in Korea. The written record also described that the Imna-Gaya retreated. From the 5th century Ad, the Korean-style stone-chamber tombs appeared in northern Kyshu, and this Korean type