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.

Etymology

Byeonhan (弁韓) is believed to be a combination of Old Korean words. Byeon () in native Korean meant "Shiny/Shimmering" while han () meant "big", giving the meaning of Byeonhan, the "Big Nation of Shimmering".

As part of the Samhan, Jinhan meant "Big Nation of the East" and Mahan meant "Big Nation of the South".

History

thumb|Skeletal remains from the Byeonhan confederacy period that was discovered in [[Gimhae, South Korea through archaeology. Burial traditions can be seen.]]

This early part of the Three Kingdoms period is sometimes called the Proto–Three Kingdoms period. Byeonhan, like the other Samhan confederacies, appears to be descended from the Jin state of southern Korea.

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). Another tradition was the burying of feathers and pottery in graves alongside the dead body as it was believed that the feathers helped the afterlife souls fly into the sky.

  1. Any ethnic who traveled through ancient southern trade routes seen through the distribution of dolmens culture. According to recent studies that excavated Kofuns in South Jeolla Province, analysis of the components of glass beads there suggests that the raw material production area is Thailand.

However, there is no distinct evidence that indicates an ethnic separation of Byeonhan and Jinhan as the two shared essentially the same culture, with varying religious customs, and apparently were not separated by a clear boundary according to the contemporary Chinese chronicle, Records of the Three Kingdoms.

Culture and language

The Dongyi ("Eastern Barbarian") in the Book of Wei section of the Chinese book, Records of the Three Kingdoms states that the culture of Byeonhan was similar to that of Jinhan (言語法俗相似) and that their populations lived "intermingled together" (弁辰與辰韓雑居), while having similar language and customs.

The fifth century Book of the Later Han, however, notes on differences in their language and customs as "languages and customs have differences" (言語風俗有異), after stating that their enclosed settlements and clothing are the same.

Byeonhan was internationally known for its production of iron, which was also its main export good to the Lelang commandery to the northwest, the Japanese archipelago, and the rest of the Korean peninsula. It was also a center of stoneware manufacture.

Member statelets

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

  • Mirimidong (), present-day Miryang.
  • Jeopdo (), present-day Haman.
  • Gojamidong (), present-day Goseong.
  • Gosunsi (), present-day Jinju, Sacheon or Goseong.
  • Ballo (), present-day Seongju.
  • Nangno (), present-day Hadong or Namhae.
  • Gunmi (), present-day Sacheon.
  • Mioyama (), present-day Changwon.
  • Gamno (), present-day Gimcheon.
  • Guya (), present-day Gimhae.
  • Jujoma (), present-day Gimcheon.
  • Anya (), present-day Haman.
  • Dongno (), present-day Dongnae.

References

  • Barnes, G.L. (2000). "Archeological armor in Korea and Japan: Styles, technology and social setting". Journal of East Asian Archeology 2 (3–4), 61–96. (Electronic Version).