An Archaeological Study On The Sanyan Culture And Its Cultural Communication With Koguryo And Countries On The Southern Korean Peninsula

By sorting out tomb features of the Sanyan Culture,this article is aimed to use archaeological data to discuss the Sanyan Culture and its cultural communication with Koguryo and countries on the southern Korean Peninsula.Due to the differences in data selections,interpretation methods and academic perspectives,this study is divided by the upper and the lower section to discuss.The upper section is discussed about the research on remains of the Sanyan Culture.With the focus on tomb burial,this section tries to elucidate its contained cultural characteristics as well as mark out a new time boundary based on specific analysis of tomb pattern and accompanied burial objects.On the basis of excavated objects and its evolution and composition relationship conducts classification.The tombs of the Sanyan are subsequently classified into four phases according to tomb pattern and composition of accompanied burial objects.Phase?indicates the tombs ranged from the period when Murong tribe migrating to the West of Liao River till the end of 3rd century.In this phase it was barely subjected to the influence from the peripheral area.Phase?indicates the tombs at the end of 3rd century when Murong Wei settled in Jicheng.In this period the power of Murong tribe started to expand obviously.Its life mode evolved and also it imitated legislation and political institution in Central Plains.At the same time Murong tribe launched war towards Yuwen tribe of Xianbei and Fuyu tribe and plundered its people.Taken as a whole,at that time Murong tribe was initiated to a comprehensive embracement of the periphery cultural influence including the Han Culture,aboriginal culture,other Xianbei Culture and Fuyu Culture etc.Phase ? refers to the tombs in the Former Yan Period.In this period Meirong tribe shifted its capital to Longcheng.It swallowed up Duan tribe of Xianbei,Yuwen tribe of Xianbei,Koguryo.When it further stretched the power to the Central Plains it eventually moved the capital to Yecheng.In this phase Murong tribe was decreased in possession of own culture factors while increased in speed of absorbing the Han Culture.Its burial culture and tradition changed tremendously,which showed an evident fusion with the Han Culture.Phase IV lasted in The Later Yan and the Northern Yan Period,in which Murong tribe lost control in main Central Plans areas and then shrank back to Longcheng.Based on tomb's structure and shape as well as the accompanied burial objects,the social status of the tomb owner could be assured and also it could be known the phenomenon of class stratification happened at that time.This phase reflects high degree agglomeration of the culture of Xianbei Murong with the multifarious culture in the circumjacent areas.As a consequence,in the short two hundred years the Sanyan Culture as unique culture was generated as product of(Xianbei Murong)'s constant assimilation of culture from Han,aborigine and others.The Lower section is about comprehensive interpretation of the Sanyan Culture's cultural communication with Koguryo,Silla,Baekje and Gaya on the basis of archaeological materials.The previous studies about the cultural exchange of Sanyan to these countries and regimes are mainly focused on Buyao decoration and horse trappings and other medium of material.But I believe that the Chinese scholars fail to have understanding of the contemporaneous archaeological date of Korean Peninsula.Therefore the relevant materials dated from 3-5th AD will be provided from the archaeological viewpoint.The comparison of the Sanyan Culture with Koguryo could be started from the aspects of pottery,decoration and horse trapping.From the view of pottery,the influence that imposed on Koguryo by the Sanyan Culture is shown by their common preference to short necked guan-jar(Ailingguan),and their difference is shown by flared mouthrim hu-jar(Zhanyanhu).From point of decoration,the evolution process of leaf carving methods on Buyao crown and Umbrella-shaped Bulb decoration reveals that the Sanyan Culture and Koguryo shared some common cultural elements.From point of horse trappings their ornamental slices used on pommel and saddle iron tend to be similar since the early and middle of 4th century.However,after the mid-4th century,these two regions developed independently.After all,from the early and mid-4th century the Sanyan Culture had broad communication with Koguryo on pottery,horse saddle and ornaments and other pragmatic materials.But since the end of 4th century and the beginning of 5th century there were clear differences on their object development.It might be caused by appreciation preference to material culture of these two groups of people.The comparison with Baekje is preceded with pottery and horse trapping.From view of pottery the Sanyan Culture and Baekje shared partial similarity due to the plausibly different acceptance channels of the Han Culture's influence.From the view of horse trapping,the convex edge trace on Baekje's ellipse saddle iron as well as harness pendants Gui-type(Guixingxingye)etc.were under influence of Koguryo's horse trapping(Koguryo was subjected to the Sanyan's influence),and later it experienced fusion and revision and created Baekje's unique horse trapping.The comparison with Silla is preceded with decoration,belt and buckle as well as horse trapping.These two cultures had none direct communication,but only through Koguryo that Baekje assimilated the Sanyan Culture.The degree of influence is different.The decoration of branch shape motif and the production technology of Buyao of Silla is compatible with the Sanyan.The shape of belt and buckle and ornamentation of Silla could be traced the elements of the Sanyan.The trace of convex edge on the treading part of horse saddle is also the element of Sanyan.The comparison with Gaya is mainly processed by horse trapping and bronze fu these two aspects.Gaya started accepting the Sanyan Culture since the 4th century.In the early stage Gaya assimilated horse trapping and bronze fu through the sea route with its center in the Southern coast of Korean Peninsula.They very possibly communicated directly.Till the late 4th century,Gaya absorb Sanyan culture frome Koguryo.