The status of Mahan culture in Northeast Asian history and Iksan

Iksan’s historical and cultural status and source in the history of Northeast Asia occupy a very important position. Iksan had already attracted attention as a center of Bronze Age culture based on the recovery of a large amount of archaeological relics in the 1970s. The ruins of Buyeo, Iksan and Jeonju(Wanju) within a 60km radius of Iksan were set as the ‘Iksan Cultural Area’. It is presumed that technological innovations were achieved in regions including Iksan by residents who came down from the political upheaval in Liaodong and the northwest region. Archaeologically, the founding period of Mahan is believed to be between the 3rd and 1st centuries B.C. in connection with the introduction of iron culture. In this case, the Mahan small states of Iksan is likely to be the Geonma states that appears in China's records of the 『Samkukji』. This small state’s name is connected to Jimomilji in the 「Gwanseumeungheomgi」 and Jimohyeon, Jimamaji, Geummajeo, Geumma in the geography of the 『Samguksagi』, showing regional historicity. Also, considering the spatial scope of Mahan as the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula in Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeolla regions, Iksan small states is considered to encompass the Geum River and Mangyeong River areas such as Okgu, Impi, Hamyeol and Geumma. In the late 4th century, the Iksan region was subordinated to Baekje along with the western regions of Jeollabuk-do, including Gunsan, Jeonju(Wanju), Gimje, Buan, Jeongeup and Gochang, and was incorporated into the local system after the transfer of the capital to Ungjin. After the 5th century, the Ipjeom-ri and Ungpo-ri tombs and the Sanwol-ri ruins in Daeya-myeon in the Geum River area related to Iksan show that they came under the control of central political forces. Even in the 6th century, Iksan was an important area through the fact that even Baekje’s Geummajeo, Geumma-gun, and Geumma-san were continuously mentioned in the literature records. Even in the 7th century, the theory of Iksan as the capital and separate capitals means that it had the same weight and importance as Sabi, the capital of Baekje at the time.