All Roads Lead to Gaya

This model depicts a vessel loaded with iron purchased by a Japanese merchant. Gaya’s high quality iron was exported to foreign countries by merchant vessels. The largest consumers were Japanese as the iron manufacturing technology of Gaya at that time was approximately 500 years ahead of Japan’s technology.

The popularity of Gaya ironware was attributable to its advanced metallurgical skill. However, convenient access to a trade port also played an important role. Gimhae, located in the center of Geumgwan Gaya, was a major port city. Gaya simultaneously exported high quality iron to many countries, including Japan and China, and imported high quality products from others. Just as Singapore, the world’s largest global transit port, does today. The port also functioned as a conduit for foreign cultural influences.

Unfortunately, although many merchant vessels were built at that time, none have been discovered. The vessel here is a reproduction based on the discovery of earthenware figurines of ships from the period.
The port city of Gimhae was a major transportation hub linking China and Japan and a center for trade in Northeast Asia.