Reconsidering the Inscribed Ring-Pommel Sword Excavated from Tomb No. 11 at Gyodong, Changnyeong

A reassessment of the inscribed ring-pommel sword from Tomb No. 11 at Gyodong, Changnyeong (Gaya Tumuli), reveals that its inscription is not an auspicious formula but a marker of status and identity, suggesting the sword was produced in Daegaya under strong Baekje influence. The tomb occupant is identified as a high-ranking regional ruler who governed the Changnyeong area, maintaining connections with Goguryeo, and deliberately appropriated symbols of authority from the Three Kingdoms. This study advances understanding of inscribed sword culture by tracing its transmission from China to Korea and Japan, highlighting Baekje's role in distributing swords as symbols of royal authority. The research employs comparative analysis of East Asian inscribed swords and epigraphic evidence, offering new interpretations that challenge previous readings.

Shin, K. (2026). Reconsidering the Inscribed Ring-Pommel Sword Excavated from Tomb No. 11 at Gyodong, Changnyeong. Korean Ancient Historical Society, 132, 141–177. https://doi.org/10.18040/sgs.2026.132.141