Geumgwan Gaya (Gimhae)

1. Tomb of King Suro

2. Tomb of King Queen Suro

3. Guji peak

4. Daeseong-dong Tombs Museum

- 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 1. Princess from Ayodha became Queen Suro -
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
2. The Origin of Pasa Stone Pagoda
Queen Suro

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 Tombs Museum 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 -
 Daeseong-dong
1. Bronze mirror
Tombs Museum

[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 -
 Daeseong-dong
2. Cavalry Knight Figurine
Tombs Museum

[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 -
 Daeseong-dong
3. Warrior Figurines
Tombs Museum

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 -
 Daeseong-dong
4. Wooden Chamber Tomb Diorama
Tombs Museum

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 -
 Daeseong-dong
5. Wooden Coffin Tomb Model
Tombs Museum

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 -
 Daeseong-dong
6. Wooden Chamber Tomb Model
Tombs Museum

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 -
 Daeseong-dong
7. Duck-shaped Vessel
Tombs Museum

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 -
 Daeseong-dong
8. Ironware of Gaya
Tombs Museum

[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 -
 Daeseong-dong
9. Iron Manufacturing Diorama
Tombs Museum

[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 -
 Daeseong-dong
10. Model of Merchant Vessel
Tombs Museum

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 -
 Daeseong-dong
11. Bronze Pot, Shield Ornament
Tombs Museum

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 -
 Daeseong-dong
12. The Secret of Gaya Women
Tombs Museum

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 -
 Daeseong-dong
14. Battlefield Reproduction Diorama
Tombs Museum

[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 -
 Daeseong-dong
15. The Daeseong-dong Tomb Complex
Tombs Museum

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 -
 16. The Secret of Overlapped Tombs No. 29 and
대성동고분군
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 -