Gilt-bronze Crown of the Seoul Baekje Era

The marvelous gilt-bronze crown has three pieces of leaf-like decorations attaching vertically on the cone-shaped body.

Similar gilt-bronze crowns, produced during the Seoul Era of Baekje, were found in various regions that were once part of Baekje. All of them share similar styles and production techniques. Tombs that contained the gilt-bronze crowns likely belonged to the noble class of each region.

This particular gilt-bronze crown dates back to the 5th century when Baekje was focused on expanding its territory. To strengthen the centralized power system, Baekje’s royal family in Hanseong, or ancient Seoul, granted these gilt-bronze crowns to appease the regional powers. The noblemen aspired to possess the crown to enhance their authority in their respective areas. Simultaneously, they pledged allegiance to the royal authority.

The decoration style of the gilt-bronze crown varied from one region to another. Dragon decorations were designed for those living near Hanseong area, while flower and grass decorations were for those in regions further away from the capital. In ancient society, the dragon was a mythical creature with the power to control wind and rain. The decoration of the crown was most likely to show the rankings of each region.