Changes of Burial System of Baekje during the Woongjin and Sabi Period: With a focus on Baekje's capital city

Abstract

This study set out to to make an approach to the differences and changes of burial system including royal tombs and noble tombs among the ancient tombs distributed around the Woongjin and Sabi capital city by comparing them in the distribution pattern, the construction order among the individual tombs, and the structure of tomb. During the Woongjin and Sabi period, Baekje's ancient tombs followed the natural landform with royal and noble tombs built closer to the capital in general. Unlike the Woongjin period, the Sabi period witnessed the further systemization of tomb arrangement, which is due to the hierarchy of tomb and the clear regulations involved in tomb construction. The royal and noble tombs built around the capital city of Baekje during the Woongjin and Sabi period were categorized based on the structure of tomb according to the stage(late 5th century), when the mainstream was stone chamber tomb with a vaulted ceiling of a square or rectangular form, the stage(early and middle 6th century), when brick chamber tomb of an rectangular form appeared and had impacts on stone chamber tomb, and the stage(since the late 6th century), when stone chamber tomb of a narrow rectangular form become mainstream. These changes of burial system throughout the stages were respectively influenced by the attempted revival of Baekje through the introduction of the brick chamber tomb from the Southern Dynasties of China in the latter part of the Woongjin period, the appearance of an institutionalized capital and burial system following transfer of the new Sabi capital city on its extension, and the ordering of official ranks and the pursuit of practicality according to the progress of institutionalization after the transfer of Sabi capital.