The Silla Crown was made of thin sheets of gilded metal, cut and smoothed using a technique inherited from traditions deriving from the West. This study explores the technical lineage of the Silla Crown, by considering two elements: the gold spangles ...
The Silla Crown was made of thin sheets of gilded metal, cut and smoothed using a technique inherited from traditions deriving from the West. This study explores the technical lineage of the Silla Crown, by considering two elements: the gold spangles and many-sided gold beads.
I would suggest two propositions about technical elements. First, the crown decorated with spangles, which were made of thin sheets of gold, was accepted from Central Asia through Silkroad. It originated in Bactriau culture. Through the commercial contacts between the Bactrian people and Xianbei(鮮卑) in the Northern China, the crown decorated with spangles was introduced into North China. Silla accepted this technique via Koguryo.
Besides the gold spangles, the Crowns of Bactria, Xianbei and Silla have a common element, that is, tree-shaped uprights of which all segments are hand-cut from thin sheet gold. The Bactrian Crown is designed in the form of stylized tree. The uprights of the Xianbei Crown consist of two elements: a pentagon and a tree. Its shape is related to their legendary mountain. The Silla Crown has tree-shaped uprights with 7 or 9 boughs that are highly stylized on the front and sides and two antler-shaped uprights in the rear. Though they have same tree motifs, there are differences according to their inherent cultures.
Related to the routes through which the crown decorated with the gold spangles are transmitted, some significant issues are raised. The route for gold spangle coincides with the gold trade route of Silla. Silla grew into a full-fledged kingdom with hereditary kings from the Kim family in the fourth century. Under the rule of Malipkan(麻立干), the gold ornaments began to be worn as the sign of their prestige and was introduced to international society through Koguryo. At that time, golds of Silla wer important items of international trade.
Last, we would consider the many-sided gold beads. This technique was applied to two small golden chains, imitations of braids, hanging from either side of the headpiece at the level of the ear. These beads are made with filigree works. Filigree works developed differently according to regional cultures. Through the prosperous sea route from India to southern area of China near to coast, these beads, which were made with small gold rings, were popular for necklaces.
From Han(漢) to East Jin(東晋), many-sided gold beads were produced in southern part of China. However, this type of beads was never excavated in the northern part of China. So, we could conclude that many-sided heads were characteristic of filligree works which were transmitted through the East Jin to Three Kingdom. In Korea, many-sided beads appeared as the daggling of earings at Koguryo. And then, in Silla, these beads were used as pendents and earings of the gold crown.
In examining the origins of technical lineage of the gold crown, some considerations must be kept in mind: Although Silla actively accepted various international techniques. she took them in her own manner reflecting her cultural surroundings.