Gogok
Encyclopedia
Gobeunok or Gogok is a Korean word for comma-shaped or curved beads and jewels, which originated and is found in Japan
but later transferred to Korea
. Gogok is also sometimes romanized as "kogok" and "kokkok" or "kokok." They are also found in China
and other parts of Asia
, but are most numerous in Korea
and also in Japan
, where they are known as magatama
.
Although usually made from jadeite
, they have been discovered made from many different materials such as nephrite
, stone
, clay, bone and glass
. They range in size range from 1 to 10 cm, have a small hole in the middle of the round part for threading. Used as earrings and necklaces, and as decoration on crowns, belts, and bracelets. Some are further decorated with gold or silver attachments.
The curved nature of the gogok beads and their similarities to bear claws has led to a theory of Scytho-Siberian influence and origin created by bear totem tribes.
In Korea
, jade gogok are found at prehistoric sites. Throughout the Korean peninsula
, nephrite gogok are found in Neolithic
and Bronze Age
sites in stone burial chambers (stone cists and dolmen
s). This probably indicates that gogok were symbols of prestige and power buried with the elites of society.
The most famous examples of gogok in Korean art
are from the Three Kingdoms period
, in Silla
royal crowns
, earrings, necklaces, and belts. These treasures were found in the burial mounds and royal mausoleums of Silla
, Baekje
, and Gaya
kings. The ornamental antlers and tree-like structures of the Silla crown and similarities of the crown with works from the Eurasian
steppes and Afghanistan
suggests vast networks of trade and also reinforces a Scytho-Siberian origin for gogok. They declined in use from about the middle of the 6th century.
The origin of gogok is contested by archaeologists because these jewels are common in Kofun
tombs as well as in contemporaneous Korean tombs both on the Korean Peninsula and in Japan. The presence of Korean tombs in Japan is due to the fact that many Korean noblemen and members of the Korean Baekjae royal family held high positions in Japan due to the close relationship between the Korean and Japanese royal houses; many of the Japanese empresses were daughters of the Baekjae royal family. One archaeologist, James Keally, who believes gogok originated in Japan cites the fact that gogok have been reported in Jōmon sites in Tohoku as early as about 1000 BCE.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
but later transferred to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Gogok is also sometimes romanized as "kogok" and "kokkok" or "kokok." They are also found in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and other parts of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, but are most numerous in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and also in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where they are known as magatama
Magatama
Magatama , are curved beads which first appeared in Japan during the Jōmon period.They are often found inhumed in mounded tumulus graves as offerings to deities . They continued to be popular with the ruling elites throughout the Kofun Period of Japan, and are often romanticised as indicative of...
.
Although usually made from jadeite
Jadeite
Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral with composition NaAlSi2O6. It is monoclinic. It has a Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7.0 depending on the composition. The mineral is dense, with a specific gravity of about 3.4. Jadeite forms solid solutions with other pyroxene endmembers such as augite and diopside ,...
, they have been discovered made from many different materials such as nephrite
Nephrite
Nephrite is a variety of the calcium and magnesium-rich amphibole mineral actinolite . The chemical formula for nephrite is Ca25Si8O222. It is one of two different mineral species called jade. The other mineral species known as jade is jadeite, which is a variety of pyroxene...
, stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
, clay, bone and glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
. They range in size range from 1 to 10 cm, have a small hole in the middle of the round part for threading. Used as earrings and necklaces, and as decoration on crowns, belts, and bracelets. Some are further decorated with gold or silver attachments.
The curved nature of the gogok beads and their similarities to bear claws has led to a theory of Scytho-Siberian influence and origin created by bear totem tribes.
In Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, jade gogok are found at prehistoric sites. Throughout the Korean peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
, nephrite gogok are found in Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
and Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
sites in stone burial chambers (stone cists and dolmen
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
s). This probably indicates that gogok were symbols of prestige and power buried with the elites of society.
The most famous examples of gogok in Korean art
Korean art
Korean art is art originating or practiced in Korea or by Korean artists, from ancient times to today. Korea is noted for its artistic traditions in pottery, music, calligraphy, and other genres, often marked by the use of bold color, natural forms, and surface decoration.-Introduction:The earliest...
are from the Three Kingdoms period
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
, in Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
royal crowns
Crown of Silla
The crowns of Silla were made in the Korean kingdom of Silla approximately in the fifth and sixth centuries of the Common Era.These crowns were excavated in Gyeongju, the former capital of Silla, and are designated National treasures of South Korea....
, earrings, necklaces, and belts. These treasures were found in the burial mounds and royal mausoleums of Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
, and Gaya
Gaya confederacy
Gaya was a confederacy of territorial polities in the Nakdong River basin of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of the Samhan period.The traditional period used by historians for Gaya chronology is 42–532 CE...
kings. The ornamental antlers and tree-like structures of the Silla crown and similarities of the crown with works from the Eurasian
Eurasian nomads
Eurasian nomads are a large group of peoples of the Eurasian Steppe. This generic title encompasses the ethnic groups inhabiting the steppes of Central Asia, Mongolia, and Eastern Europe. They domesticated the horse, and their economy and culture emphasizes horse breeding, horse riding, and a...
steppes and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
suggests vast networks of trade and also reinforces a Scytho-Siberian origin for gogok. They declined in use from about the middle of the 6th century.
The origin of gogok is contested by archaeologists because these jewels are common in Kofun
Kofun period
The is an era in the history of Japan from around 250 to 538. It follows the Yayoi period. The word kofun is Japanese for the type of burial mounds dating from this era. The Kofun and the subsequent Asuka periods are sometimes referred to collectively as the Yamato period...
tombs as well as in contemporaneous Korean tombs both on the Korean Peninsula and in Japan. The presence of Korean tombs in Japan is due to the fact that many Korean noblemen and members of the Korean Baekjae royal family held high positions in Japan due to the close relationship between the Korean and Japanese royal houses; many of the Japanese empresses were daughters of the Baekjae royal family. One archaeologist, James Keally, who believes gogok originated in Japan cites the fact that gogok have been reported in Jōmon sites in Tohoku as early as about 1000 BCE.