The fight for the Han River

In the early sixth century, the struggle for control of the Korean Peninsula was fierce. Goguryeo controlled the Han River region, at the center of the peninsula, while pressure from Silla and Baekje on the region was growing. Interestingly, a small gilt-bronze Buddha statue made in Goguryeo in the sixth century was found in the Gaya region, in the southern part of the peninsula, far from Goguryeo's capital. Why did this Goguryeo statue travel such a long way to Gaya during this turbulent period? Let's imagine a story set in the sixth century, just for fun.

In 539, Silla's pressure on the Han River region grew stronger. Goguryeo decided to form a coalition with Gaya, a confederacy of states west of Silla. Goguryeo dispatched a delegate to negotiate an alliance. He brought with him a gilt-bronze statue that a temple in Goguryeo's capital had distributed to its followers. With it, he could pray anytime, anywhere.

After arriving in Gaya, he began negotiations. But Silla learned about the meeting and launched an attack on the meeting place. He hurriedly buried his precious Buddha statue, intending to dig it up again after the battle. Unfortunately, he was killed during the battle, leaving the statue underground with no one knowing its location. It remained buried for centuries and was finally discovered during road construction in the twentieth century.

After 539, Silla grew stronger. By 553, it had gained control of the entire Han River region, pushing out Goguryeo and Baekje in turn. Presumably around 568, Silla's great conqueror, King Jinheung, toured the newly conquered territories. He erected stone monuments that proclaimed his rule over the newly acquired lands. One was erected on the summit of Bukhansan, a prominent mountain overlooking the Han River region.

We can imagine various stories connecting this small gilt-bronze statue with these massive stone monuments, because few written records or artifacts survive from this period.