Teaching East Asia: Korea Teaching East Asia: Korea | Page 36

ties between the gold ornaments and crystal and jade necklaces of Silla and Japan
illustrate the deep ties shared by the elites of the two neighboring kingdoms and the
eastern flow of artisans and goods. 23
In the National Museum of Korea, there are stunning gold crowns from the 5th century in
shapes reminiscent of deer antlers or tree branches, which was an ancient symbol of a sha-
man’s ability to bridge the worlds of earth and heaven (cf. photos on pp. 49 & 74). 24
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In their design—notably the vertical projections that suggest antlers, dangling pen-
dants, and treelike shapes—and goldworking techniques, Korean crowns are similar
to ones excavated from various parts of the Eurasian steppes, suggesting not only
connections between these regions but also that Korean shamanism derived from
Scytho-Siberian shamanism. The existence of active land and sea trade linking Korea
with lands far to the west and south is evidenced by glass vessels and beads, some
of which are imported from as far away as the Mediterranean. Pure gold earrings
uncovered from Silla and Kaya tombs display a variety of designs and accomplished
techniques, from simple cut gold sheet to complicated filigree and granulation. The
ultimate source of such elaborate techniques as granulation is probably the Greek and
Etruscan goldsmiths of western Asia and Europe, whose skills were transmitted to
northern China and later to Korea. The resemblance of earrings found in Japan in the
Kofun period (ca. 3rd century—538 CE.) to those from Silla and Kaya tombs suggests
that such articles were imported from Korea. 25
VI
Excavated Silla tombs reveal not only gold crowns, but long gold belts, bronze shoes, gold
earrings, bracelets, finger and toe rings on the elite and royal corpses. 26
In an Arabic work of the 9th century, Silla was referred to as the “gold-glittering nation.” 27
Many tomb objects, like these crowns, do not appear in Chinese tombs, “suggesting direct
Silla contact by sea and land with Mediterranean and Arab traders, rather than the ‘down-the-
line’ trade which is usually implied.” 28
SPREAD OF WORLD RELIGIONS: BUDDHISM & CONFUCIANISM
One of the crucial cultural interactions along the Silk Road was the spread of world religions
(and philosophies) from their places of origin to new places, and the syncretism (blending of
the new with the old) that took place within the new cultures.
Chinese Buddhist monks brought Buddhism into the three kingdoms. The Koguryo court was
the first to accept the religion in 372. The Paekche king followed suit twelve years later. 29
Buddhism became the official religion of the kingdom of Silla in 527. Monks, sponsored by
the northern Korean kingdom of Paekche, spread Buddhism to Japan in 552. 30 Korea needs
to be mentioned as the recipient as well as the conduit of Buddhism.
The conversion of the rulers to Buddhism no doubt hastened the conversion of the aris-
tocrats and the common peoples. It also may have helped several prominent Silla rulers,
especially its queens, solidify their power to rule, since Buddhism was considerably less
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Silla Korea and the Silk Road: Golden Age, Golden Threads