The Characteristics and Significance of Armor from the Geumgwanchong Tomb

The Geumgwanchong Tomb is a representative ancient tomb of Silla from which various burial goods were excavated. While it is widely known for its gold crown, it holds significant importance as various gilt-bronze artifacts, including gilt-bronze armor, were also discovered together. The reports published during the Japanese colonial period lacked detailed analysis of the gilt-bronze armor and contained errors such as misidentifying the bokbal (helmet bowl) as a gilt-bronze vessel. However, with the publication of an official report by the Gyeongju National Museum in 2016, the complete picture of the entire armor set, including previously unknown gilt-bronze lamellar scales, was revealed. The armor excavated from Geumgwanchong Tomb is functionally classified into helmets, body armor, decorative armor plates, and auxiliary armor. One gilt-bronze bokbal was discovered as a helmet component, and while the main body and cheek guards are missing, some curved scales presumed to be jangchal (long scales) may possibly be parts of the main helmet body. The lamellar scales of the scale armor are divided into upper-round lower-square and rectangular forms in plan view, and are classified into four types based on different widths and lengths. The connection method between scales is presumed to have been achieved through horizontal lacing techniques and vertical lacing holes. As auxiliary armor, at least four pairs of arm guards with treasure-bead-shaped plan forms have been identified, with some featuring decorative pendants and construction techniques. Additionally, the neck guard composed of a total of 28 elongated gilt-bronze plates measures 3cm in width and 25cm in length, with semicircular metal fittings that allow opening and closing when worn, and traces of additional perforations made to fit the wearer's body have been observed. Comparative analysis with Silla gilt-bronze armor reveals that Geumgwanchong is the tomb with the most diverse types of gilt-bronze armor buried, including both lamellar and plate armor. Particularly, the gilt-bronze scale armor from Geumgwanchong represents the only reported case of such armor discovered on the Korean Peninsula to date. Comparing the gilt-bronze armor of Silla and Gaya, Silla tends to produce arm guards and bury them independently, while Gaya characteristically produces helmets and buries them together with other armor pieces. This suggests the possibility that Silla manufactured gilt-bronze armor as part of a dress code system. Analysis of the construction techniques applied to the Geumgwanchong arm guards revealed a unique technique of engraving dotted line patterns in diagonal directions, suggesting that the craftsmen who made gilt-bronze armor and those who made ornaments and horse gear may have been different groups. From the perspective of Korea-Japan relations, the gilt-bronze armor excavated from 5th-century Japanese tombs such as Daeseon Tomb, Ojomyo Tomb, and Wolgang Tomb is presumed to have been manufactured locally under the influence of Silla technology. Particularly, the arm guard excavated from Shingai Tomb No. 1 was likely manufactured by locals or immigrants who adopted Silla arm guard production techniques. Simultaneously, items related to Wa (ancient Japan) such as shell-made cloud-shaped beads, shell-made vessels, and curved jade were also identified in Geumgwanchong, demonstrating that active mutual exchange, rather than unilateral interaction, occurred between Silla and Wa at the time.