The Gaya Confederacy originated, as legend tells it, from a collection of folktales and accounts from Korean history (Provok, 2020). The legend explains that Gaya came from heaven by way of six eggs and hatched human men who would become Kings to the Gaya Kingdoms. All six Kings became rulers of the six different Gayas called Geumgwan Gaya, Daegaya, Seongsan Gaya, Ara Gaya, Goryeong Gaya, and Sogaya (Provok, 2020). Each of the Gaya states had their own unique culture and life. However, Geumgwna Gaya was the center of them all. Geumgwan Gaya consisted of nine villages and was integrated by King Suro of Gaya.
History of the Gaya Confederacy
During the period of the Three Kingdoms, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, Gaya was absorbed by the Silla Kingdom. The history of Gaya was not recorded in the History of the Three Kingdoms because of the Goryeo Dynasty perspective. However, the defeat of Gaya by Silla was not recorded due to the fact that Silla considered Gaya their territory (Kim, 2006).
Fall of the Gaya confederacy
“Gaya,” Kaya or Garak, is known as a confederacy that originated in South Korea. The Gaya Confederacy has many different names because of the transcription of Chinese characters from Korean (Provok, 2020). The confederacy was made up of multiple alliances, growing from the Byeonhan confederacy. The Byeonhan confederacy was one part of the three han groups. The Gaya confederacy lasted until it was included into the Silla confederacy. The confederacy was located near the Nakdong River valley in the east of South Korea. The Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms in Korea in the Korean peninsula. While in the Silla dynasty, the Gaya confederacy was important to the character of the dynasty (Provok, 2020).
The economy of the Gaya Confederacy depended on the Nakdong River, where it was positioned around. This river was infused with riches that benefited the Kingdom with an entry to the sea, iron deposits and abundant plains. The economy was based around this river with fishing, agriculture and trade of ironworks with weaponry (Kim, 2006).
The Gaya–Silla War were a series of conflicts between the ancient
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
n Kingdom of
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...
and the
Gaya confederacy
Gaya (, ) was a Korean confederacy of territorial polities in the Nakdong River basin of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of the Samhan period.
The traditional period used by historians for Gaya chronology is AD 42–53 ...
. The Gaya confederacy split as nothrwestern states fell to influence of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms, and southeastern fell influence to Silla (Provok, 2020).
Silla began as one of the six ruling clans of Saro. Around 80 AD, the leadership of Saro was seized and consolidated by
Talhae of Silla
Talhae of Silla (5 BC –80 AD, r. 57–80) was the fourth king of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is commonly called Talhae Isageum, ''isageum'' being the royal title in early Silla. Also known by his personal name as Seok Tal-ha ...
. The state of Saro began forming a confederation with neighboring walled-town states, and gradually gained strength. Saro ultimately became the Kingdom of Silla.
The reign of Pasa Isageum
In 88 AD, Silla built two forts named Gaso (가소성, 加召城), and Madu (마두성, 馬頭城), to guard against the encroachment of the Kingdom of
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.
Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...
and the Gaya confederacy, respectively. This led to the start of tensions with Gaya.
It was not until 94 AD that Gaya initiated hostilities against Silla. Subsequently, the two powers went to war again in 97 AD. Both of these campaigns were unsuccessful.
In the twenty-third year of the reign of
King Pasa, Silla gained control over the previously independent states of Siljikgok (present-day
Samcheok
Samcheok () is a city in Gangwon-do, South Korea.
History
Ancient age & Three Kingdom
* It was called "Siljikguk or Siljikgokguk"
* 102 under the rule of Silla ( Pasa 23rd)
* 468 under the rule of Goguryeo ( Jangsu 56th)
* 505 The name changed ...
), Eumjipbeol (present-day northern
Gyeongju
Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...
), and Apdok (present-day
Gyeongsan
Gyeongsan () is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Its western border abuts the metropolitan city of Daegu, and much of Gyeongsan lies within the Daegu metropolitan area.
Numerous universities are located in Gyeongsan, such as Ye ...
). Six years later, Silla took over the states of Biji (present-day
Hapcheon
Hapcheon County (''Hapcheon-gun'') is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
Located in northwestern Gyeongsangnam-do, the county is surrounded by Changnyeong as well as Euiryeong to the Southeast, Geochang as well as Sancheong-gun ...
), Dabeol (present-day
Pohang
Pohang () is a city in the province of North Gyeongsang, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River. The city is divided into two wa ...
), and Chopal (present-day
Changwon
Changwon () is the capital city of Gyeongsangnam-do, on the southeast coast of South Korea. With a population of 1.07 million , Changwon is South Korea's ninth-most populous city.
A port city, Changwon is bordered by Masan Bay to the south ...
) as well. These, together with U-si and Kueo-ch’il, which has been added the year before Pasa's accession, constituted a considerable increase in the territory of the Kingdom of Silla.
The reign of Jima Isageum
Under
King Jima, relations with the neighboring Gaya confederacy became peaceful, following unsuccessful invasion attempts in 115 AD and 116 AD.
See also
*
History of Korea
The Lower Paleolithic era in the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago.
Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825.
The earlies ...
*
Military history of Korea
Korea's military history spans thousands of years, beginning with the ancient nation of Gojoseon and continuing into the present day with the countries of North Korea and South Korea, and is notable for its many successful triumphs over invader ...
External links
Map of the Silla-Gaya-Paekche Wars
Gaya confederacy
Silla
Wars involving Silla
{{Korea-hist-stub