Gaya
Gaya (가야; 加耶, 伽耶, 伽倻), also known as Garak (가락; 駕洛, 迦落), Gara (가라; 加羅, 伽羅, 迦羅, 柯羅), Garyang(가량,加良), or Guya (구야, 狗耶) was a confederacy of chiefdoms that existed in three kingdoms era in ancient Korea.
Gaya is thought to be based on more ancient confederacy of chiefdoms called Byeonhan.
According to legend recorded in Samguk Yusa, in the year 42, 6 eggs descended from the heaven with message that they will be kings. 6 eggs hatched and 6 boys were born, and within 12 days they grew mature. One of them, named Suro (수로; 首露), became the king of Geumgwan Gaya (금관 가야), and the other five founded the other five Gayas, namely Daegaya (대가야), Seongsan Gaya (성산 가야), Ara Gaya (아라 가야), Goryeong Gaya (고령 가야), and Sogaya (소가야).
Different records list different chiefdoms of Gaya. Goryeo Saryak (고려사략; 高麗史略) lists five; Geumgwan Gaya, Goryeong Gaya, Bihwa Gaya, Ara Gaya and Seongsan Gaya.
Situated around the mouth of the Nakdong River, an area with fertile plains, access to the sea, and rich iron deposits, Gaya economy was based on agriculture and fishing as well as trade. The various Gaya mini-states formed a confederacy in the 2nd and 3rd centuries centred around Gayaguk of modern Gimhae. After a period of decline, the confederacy was revived around the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries, this time centred around Daegaya of modern Goryeong, but it was unable to defend itself for long against Silla and Baekje. In 562, Daegaya, the last of the Gaya states, fell to Silla.
See also
