Crown of Gaya
Encyclopedia
The crowns of Gaya refers to two excavated pieces that are believed to be the headgear of the elite of the Gaya Confederacy
. These crowns share the general traditions of Korean crowns, such as the use of diadems, which follows the tradition of the Baekje
and the use of headbands with uprights, most notably used in the crowns of Silla
. However, the Gaya crowns are obviously distinctive from the traditions of the Silla
and Baekje
and shows that the Gaya people enjoyed an independent culture.
The Geumgwan mit busok geumgu refers to a collection of artifacts including a gold crown
and its accompanying accessories, finger rings, and earrings. The crown is currently housed at the Hoam Art Museum. This artifact, along with its accompanying accessories, was designated as a national treasure of Korea on December 21, 1971. The crown is believed to be from the fifth or sixth century CE and the crown measures 11.5 centimeters in height, 3.6 centimeters in width, and 20.7 centimeters in diameter.
The crown has three distinctive parts. The headband is made of gold. It is decorated with tiny gold mirrors which are attached to the band. The band itself is incised with dotted decorations running on the top and bottom in a diamond motif. Attached to the band are jade gogok
. However, whether these beads were supposed to be on the headband is still debated because they were apparently not found on the crown when it was excavated.
The appendages of the crown are placed equidistant from each other on the circular headband. These appendages look similar to fleur de lis symbol but are more often described as grass-shaped or floral-shaped. Each appendage is identical and has three sets of prongs flowing downward at a right angle and is topped with a jewel-shaped finial. These appendages resemble a crown of Baekje which also had flowing floral-like patterns instead of the stylistic crowns of Silla.
Finally, the crown came with four floral-shaped ornaments which were probably used as diadems. Jade gogok
were attached to the gold ornaments as well as tiny gold disks. It is believed that these ornaments follow Silla styles and are also incised with dots in a diamond motif like the headband of the crown.
Gaya confederacy
Gaya was a 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 42–532 CE...
. These crowns share the general traditions of Korean crowns, such as the use of diadems, which follows the tradition of the Baekje
Crown of Baekje
The Crown of Baekje refers to several artifacts excavated that are believed to be the royal headgear of the kings, queens, and nobility of the Baekje Kingdom. Some of the crowns follow the same tradition as Silla crowns in that they share the tree-motif and the hints of shamanistic traditions...
and the use of headbands with uprights, most notably used in the crowns of Silla
Crown of Silla
The crowns of Silla were made in the Korean kingdom of Silla approximately in the fifth and sixth centuries of the Common Era.These crowns were excavated in Gyeongju, the former capital of Silla, and are designated National treasures of South Korea....
. However, the Gaya crowns are obviously distinctive from the traditions of the Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
and Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
and shows that the Gaya people enjoyed an independent culture.
National Treasure No.138
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
and its accompanying accessories, finger rings, and earrings. The crown is currently housed at the Hoam Art Museum. This artifact, along with its accompanying accessories, was designated as a national treasure of Korea on December 21, 1971. The crown is believed to be from the fifth or sixth century CE and the crown measures 11.5 centimeters in height, 3.6 centimeters in width, and 20.7 centimeters in diameter.
The crown has three distinctive parts. The headband is made of gold. It is decorated with tiny gold mirrors which are attached to the band. The band itself is incised with dotted decorations running on the top and bottom in a diamond motif. Attached to the band are jade gogok
Gogok
Gobeunok or Gogok is a Korean word for comma-shaped or curved beads and jewels, which originated and is found in Japan but later transferred to Korea...
. However, whether these beads were supposed to be on the headband is still debated because they were apparently not found on the crown when it was excavated.
The appendages of the crown are placed equidistant from each other on the circular headband. These appendages look similar to fleur de lis symbol but are more often described as grass-shaped or floral-shaped. Each appendage is identical and has three sets of prongs flowing downward at a right angle and is topped with a jewel-shaped finial. These appendages resemble a crown of Baekje which also had flowing floral-like patterns instead of the stylistic crowns of Silla.
Finally, the crown came with four floral-shaped ornaments which were probably used as diadems. Jade gogok
Gogok
Gobeunok or Gogok is a Korean word for comma-shaped or curved beads and jewels, which originated and is found in Japan but later transferred to Korea...
were attached to the gold ornaments as well as tiny gold disks. It is believed that these ornaments follow Silla styles and are also incised with dots in a diamond motif like the headband of the crown.
See also
- National treasures of Korea
- Gaya ConfederacyGaya confederacyGaya was a 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 42–532 CE...
- Crown of SillaCrown of SillaThe crowns of Silla were made in the Korean kingdom of Silla approximately in the fifth and sixth centuries of the Common Era.These crowns were excavated in Gyeongju, the former capital of Silla, and are designated National treasures of South Korea....
- Crown of BaekjeCrown of BaekjeThe Crown of Baekje refers to several artifacts excavated that are believed to be the royal headgear of the kings, queens, and nobility of the Baekje Kingdom. Some of the crowns follow the same tradition as Silla crowns in that they share the tree-motif and the hints of shamanistic traditions...