Byeonhan confederacy

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Byeonhan confederacy
Hangul 변한 or 변진
Hanja 弁韓 or 弁辰
Revised Romanization Byeonhan or Byeonjin
McCune-Reischauer Pyŏnhan or Pyŏnjin

Byeonhan, also known as Byeonjin, was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the beginning of the Common Era to the 4th century in the southern Korean peninsula. Byeonhan was one of the Samhan (or "Three Hans"), along with Mahan and Jinhan.

Contents

[edit] History

History of Korea

Prehistory
 Jeulmun period
 Mumun period
Gojoseon 2333-108 BC
 Jin state
Proto-Three Kingdoms: 108-57 BC
 Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye
 Samhan: Ma, Byeon, Jin
Three Kingdoms: 57 BC - 668 AD
 Goguryeo 37 BC - 668 AD
  Sui wars
 Baekje 18 BC - 660 AD
 Silla 57 BC - 935 AD
 Gaya 42-562
North-South States: 698-935
 Unified Silla 668-935
 Balhae 698-926
Later Three Kingdoms 892-935
Goryeo 918-1392
 Khitan wars
 Mongol invasions
Joseon 1392-1897
 Japanese invasions 1592-1598
 Manchu invasions
Korean Empire 1897–1910
Japanese rule 1910–1945
 Provisional Gov't 1919-1948
Division of Korea 1945–1948
North, South Korea 1948–present
 Korean War 1950–1953
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This early part of the Three Kingdoms period is sometimes called the Proto-Three Kingdoms period.

Byeonhan, like the other Samhan confederacies, appear descended from Jin state of southern Korea. Following the fall of Gojoseon and establishment of the Chinese commanderies in the northern part of the Korean peninsula in 108 BC, refugee migration and cultural transmission continued to transform the region.

Archaeological evidence indicates an increase in military activity and weapons production among the Byeonhan in the 3rd century, especially an increase in iron arrowheads and cuirasses (Barnes 2000). This may be associated with the decline of Byeonhan and the rise of the more centralized Gaya Confederacy, which most Byeonhan states joined. Gaya was subsequently annexed by Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

[edit] Culture and trade

The Chinese Records of Three Kingdoms state that the language and culture of Byeonhan was essentially the same as Jinhan, and archaeological artifacts show little difference. Byeonhan may have simply referred to the chiefdoms in the south and west of the Nakdong River valley which were not formal members of the Jinhan confederacy.

According to the 3rd century Chinese chronicle Wei Zhi, Byeonhan was known for the production of iron; it exported iron to the Chinese commanderies to the north, Yamato Japan and the rest of the Korean peninsula. It was also a center of stoneware manufacture.

[edit] Member statelets

According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Byeonhan consisted of 12 statelets:

  • Mirimidong (미리미동국/彌離彌凍國)
  • Jeopdo (접도국/接塗國)
  • Gojamidong (고자미동국/古資彌凍國), in modern-day Goseong County
  • Gosunsi (고순시국/古淳是國)
  • Ballo (반로국/半路國)
  • Nangno (낙노국/樂奴國)
  • Gunmi (군미국/軍彌國)
  • Mioyama (미오야마국/彌烏邪馬國), Goryeong County
  • Gamno (감로국/甘路國)
  • Guya (구야국/狗邪國), Gimhae
  • Jujoma (주조마국/走漕馬國)
  • Anya (안야국/安邪國), Haman County
  • Dongno (독로국/瀆盧國), Dongnae Ward of Busan

[edit] See also

[edit] References