Founding of Geumgwan Gaya

Also called: Suro myth, Gujiga

Kim Suro is said to have founded Geumgwan Gaya from the Byeonhan state of Guya; it led the early Gaya confederacy.

The Garak-guk-gi in the Samguk yusa tells of six golden eggs descending on Mount Guji in 42 CE, from which Suro and the kings of five other Gaya states were born. Following a voice from heaven, the nine chiefs of Gimhae dug the earth on Mount Guji and sang and danced: "Turtle, turtle, put out your head; if you do not, we will roast and eat you." A golden box hung on a purple cord came down, holding six golden eggs; boys hatched from them, and Suro, the first, became king of Garak (Geumgwan Gaya). The song, the Gujiga, is counted among the oldest surviving Korean songs. His queen, Heo Hwang-ok, was said to have come by sea from the land of Ayuta.

Geumgwan Gaya at Gimhae produced fine iron, used iron ingots as money and exported them to Lelang and Wa, prospering as a maritime trading hub. Iron ingots and iron plate armour and helmets from the Daeseong-dong tombs and elsewhere show Gaya’s advanced iron culture.

Gaya never became a centralized kingdom. After Goguryeo’s attack of 400 weakened Geumgwan Gaya, Daegaya at Goryeong led a later confederacy.