Jinhan confederacy
Jinhan (Korean pronunciation: [tɕin.ɦan]) was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD in the southern Korean Peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong River valley, Gyeongsang Province. Jinhan was one of the Samhan (or "Three Hans"), along with Byeonhan and Mahan. Apparently descending from the Jin state of southern Korea, Jinhan was absorbed by the later Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Jinhan confederacy | |
Hangul | 진한 |
---|---|
Hanja | 辰韓 |
Revised Romanization | Jinhan |
McCune–Reischauer | Chinhan |
History
Part of a series on the |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
History of Korea | ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
Prehistoric period | ||||||||
Ancient period | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Proto–Three Kingdoms period | ||||||||
Three Kingdoms period | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Northern and Southern States period | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Later Three Kingdoms period | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Dynastic period | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Colonial period | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Modern period | ||||||||
|
||||||||
Topics | ||||||||
Timeline | ||||||||
Jinhan, like the other Samhan confederacies, arose out of the confusion and migration following the fall of Wiman Joseon in 108 BC.
Culture
Its relation to the earlier state of Jin is not clear, although the contemporary Chinese chronicle San Guo Zhi alleges that Jinhan was identical with Jin (while another record describes Jin as the predecessor of the Samhan as a whole). Jinhan and Byeonhan shared essentially the same culture, with varying religious customs, and apparently were not separated by a clear boundary.
The people claimed they were the descendants of Qin dynasty migrants who left China due to Qin's forced labor policies and moved to the Mahan confederacy. The confederacy was also called "Qinhan" (Hanja: 秦韓).[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] As immigrants, the kings might be Mahan people according to most historical books of China and Korea.
In Volume 30 of the Book of Wei, Biographies of Jinhan, and the Records of the Three Kingdoms, there is a description "名國為邦" (referring to Guo "國" as Bang "邦"). It is said that people of Jinhan came from the Qin dynasty. The first Han dynasty emperor Liu Bang (Hanja: 劉邦) was hesitant to use same Chinese character "Bang" (Hanja: 邦) to refer to "country", so he changed "Bang" (Hanja: 邦) to "Guo" (Hanja: 國). Thus, after the Han dynasty, people use "Guo" (Hanja: 國) instead of "Bang" (Hanja: 邦). However, people of Jinhan used the character "Bang" (Hanja: 邦), thus preserving elements of the Qin dynasty Chinese language.[9][10]
Record of the Three Kingdoms Book of Wei, Volume 30, History of Jinhan
Classical Chinese
- 辰韓在馬韓之東,其耆老傳世,自言古之亡人避秦役來適韓國,馬韓割其東界地與之。有城柵。其言語不與馬韓同,名國為邦,弓為弧,賊為寇,行酒為行觴。
English
- Jinhan confederacy is located in the east of Mahan confederacy. In old saying of that area, people of Jinhan was an old refugee who came to Korea to avoid the hardship of Qin dynasty, and Mahan gave them their east land. They set a castle fence and the language they speak is not the same as Mahan’s. At there, they call Guo (Hanja: 国) as Bang (Hanja: 邦), Gong (弓) as Hu (Hanja: 弧)、Zei (Hanja: 賊) as Kou (Hanja: 寇), and Xingjiu (Hanja: 行酒) as Xingshang (Hanja: 行觴).
— 三國志 魏書卷30辰韓伝
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article:
The Samguk Sagi and History of the Northern Dynasties say that the originally Lelang Commandery area which later became the area of Jinhan confederacy was the origin of Silla.[3][4][5]
Statelets
According to the San Guo Zhi, Jinhan consisted of 12 statelets of 600 to 5000 families each divided from 6 statelets:
- Saro (사로국, 斯盧國), most powerful state in Jinhan, it is also called Seorabeol. In 503, Saro state renamed itself "Silla".
- Gijeo (기저국, 己柢國), present-day Andong.
- Bulsa (불사국, 不斯國), present-day Changnyeong.
- Geun-gi (근기국, 勤耆國), present-day Pohang or Cheongdo.
- Nanmirimidong (난미리미동국, 難彌理彌凍國), present-day Miryang. It is also called "Mirimidong".
- Yeomhae (염해국, 冉奚國), present-day Ulsan.
- Gunmi (군미국, 軍彌國), present-day Sacheon.
- Yeodam (여담국, 如湛國), present-day Gunwi.
- Horo (호로국, 戶路國), present-day Sangju.
- Juseon (주선국, 州鮮國), present-day Gyeongsan.
- Mayeon (마연국, 馬延國), present-day Miryang.
- U-yu (우유국, 優由國), present-day Cheongdo or Yeongdeok.
According to Samguk Sagi, the Silla Kingdom (around present-day Gyeongju), was founded by Bak Hyeokgeose in 57 BC, who united the six clans of Jinhan under his rule. The records are sparse and conflicting regarding the relationship of the names Jinhan, Saro, Seorabeol, and the later Silla kingdom.
We know little of the daily life of Jinhan people. The religion appears to have been shamanistic, and to have played an important role in politics as well. Agriculture was heavily dominated by rice, but also included substantial rearing of livestock including horses, cattle, and chickens.
Location
Most theories indicate that Jinhan was located in the area later occupied by the Silla kingdom: the Gyeongju Basin and adjacent Sea of Japan coast. It would have been neighbored by the Byeonhan confederacy on the southwest, and by the much larger Mahan confederacy on the west. On the north it would have been bounded by the Chinese commanderies and the small coastal state of Dongye. However, some scholars place Jinhan in the Han River valley, bounded by Mahan on the north and Byeonhan on the south.
See also
References
- Horesh, N. (2014). Asian Thought on China's Changing International Relations. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 175. ISBN 978-1137299321. "According to the Samguksagi entry for the 38th year of King Bak Hyeogeose of Silla, it is claimed that refugees from Qin settled in Jinhan, that is south-eastern Korea."
-
Samgungnyusa volume 1 Classical Chinese
- 後漢書云。辰韓耆老自言。秦之亡人來適韓國。而馬韓割東界地以與之。相呼為徒。有似秦語。故或名之為秦韓。
- The History of the Later Han Dynasty writes, "An old person from Chenhan State said that some refugees came to Korea from the Chinese Empire of Qin, and Mahan gave them some land of her eastern border.
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: Page:三國遺事 卷第一 1512年 奎章閣本.pdf/50
-
History of the Northern Dynasties Volume 94, History of Silla Classical Chinese
- 新罗者,其先本辰韩种也。地在高丽东南,居汉时乐浪地。辰韩亦曰秦韩。相传言秦世亡人避役来适,马韩割其 东界居之,以秦人,故名之曰秦韩。其言语名物,有似中国人。....其文字、甲兵,同于中国。
- Silla is descendent of Jinhan confederacy. Its land is in southeast of Goguryeo and it is old land of Lelang Commandery of Han dynasty. It is called Jinhan or Qinhan. According to Xiangyun (相伝), founders were refugees who came in avoiding hardship during the period of Qin dynasty. Mahan gave east land to them and made those Qin people live there. Therefore, this is called Qinhan. Their language and name are similar to Chinese.
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 北史/卷094#新羅
-
Samguk Sagi volume 1 Classical Chinese
- 前此 中國之人 苦秦亂東來者衆 多處馬韓東 與辰韓雜居 至是寖盛 故馬韓忌之 有責焉
- The location of Jinhan is east of Mahan. In old saying, they are old refugees who came to Korea to avoid hardship from Qin dynasty. And Mahan said they gave them east land.
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 三國史記/新羅本紀/卷1/赫居世 居西干#38年 (紀元前 20年)
-
Ri Zhi Lu Volume 29 Classical Chinese
- 辰韩亦曰秦韩,相传言秦世亡人避役来适,马韩割其东界居之。以秦人故,名之曰秦韩。其言语名物有似中国人。
- The location of Jinhan is east of Mahan. They are refugees who came to Korea to avoid hardship of Qin dynasty. Mahan said they gave east land to them. They set up castle fences and their language is similar to the one in Qin dynasty. It is also called as Qinhan.
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 日知錄/卷29
-
Record of the Three Kingdoms Book of Wei, Volume 30, History of Jinhan Classical Chinese
- 辰韓在馬韓之東,其耆老傳世,自言古之亡人避秦役來適韓國,馬韓割其東界地與之。有城柵。其言語不與馬韓同,名國為邦,弓為弧,賊為寇,行酒為行觴。
- Jinhan confederacy is located in the east of Mahan confederacy. In old saying of that area, people of Jinhan was an old refugee who came to Korea to avoid the hardship of Qin dynasty, and Mahan gave them their east land. They set a castle fence and the language they speak is not the same as Mahan’s. At there, they call Guo (Hanja: 国) as Bang (Hanja: 邦), Gong (弓) as Hu (Hanja: 弧)、Zei (Hanja: 賊) as Kou (Hanja: 寇), and Xingjiu (Hanja: 行酒) as Xingshang (Hanja: 行觴).
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 三國志/卷30#韓
-
Book of the Later Han Volume 85, History of Jinhan Classical Chinese
- 耆老自言秦之亡人,避苦役,適韓國,馬韓割東界地與之。其名國為邦,弓为弧,賊為寇,行酒為行觴,相呼為徒,有似秦語,故或名之為秦韓。
- People of Jinhan are old refugees who came to Korea to avoid hardship of Qin dynasty. Mahan said they gave east land to them. In Jinhan, country is called “Bang (邦)”,arrow is called “Hu (弧)”, thief is called “Kou (寇)” ,”Xingjiu (行酒)” called as “Xingshang (行觴)” (Turning cups of alcoholic drink) and they call each other as “Tu (徒)”. Their language is similar to language of Qin. So, this place is also called as Qinhan.
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 後漢書/卷85
-
Book of Jin Volume 97, History of Jinhan Classical Chinese
- 辰韓在馬韓之東,自言秦之亡人避役入韓,韓割東界以居之,立城柵,言語有類秦人,由是或謂之爲秦韓。
- The location of Jinhan is east of Mahan. They are refugees who came to Korea to avoid hardship of Qin dynasty. Mahan said they gave east land to them. They set up castle fences and their language is similar to the one in Qin dynasty. It is also called as Qinhan.
Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 晉書/卷097#馬韓 辰韓 弁韓
- Hiromichi Mori. 日本書紀成立の真実 書き換えの主導者は誰か. Chuokoron-Shinsha. ISBN 978-4120042829.
- 伊藤英人「朝鮮半島における言語接触」Tokyo University of Foreign Studies語学研究所論集、第18号、p58