The Development of the Korea-Japan Small-scale Imitation Bronze Mirrors in the Proto Three Kingdoms·Yayoi Period

The ‘Small-scale Imitation Bronze Mirrors(小形仿製銅鏡)’ surveyed in Korea and Japan during the Proto Three Kingdoms·Yayoi(弥生) period have been assumed to have a one-way inflow from a specific area based on the frequency and distribution pattern of excavations. However, due to the lack of background and purpose of the Bronze Mirrors usage custom, the view that Korean excavations were obtained in Japan along with the making larger bronze weapon is drawing attention. This Yayoi social image and solidarity approach makes it difficult to make a balanced interpretation of Korean data. In particular, there is room for reconsideration when looking at relics by adding Korean data to the genealogical relationship between the early small-scale imitation bronze mirror mold and some patterns identified in Kyushu(九州). Accordingly, this paper attempts to analyze the small-scale imitated bronze mirror found in Korea and Japan during the Proto Three Kingdoms Period based on formal studies to reveal the changes, and to clarify the diffusion structure and significance of objects through an approach considering the social background at that time. There are eight main properties of the small-scale imitated bronze mirror, and a total of six forms can be derived by combining them. Each type is confirmed in both Korea and Japan, and the tendency to change according to the overall appearance shows high similarity regardless of region. However, differences can be confirmed in the patterns of major position, the shape around the ring(鈕座文樣), and the method of using the object. In Korea, there are common cases in which it is accompanied by the chinese bronze mirrors(漢鏡), centered on the pattern of bracken designs(蕨手文) as a major use, but in Japan, the linked-arc designs(連弧文) is mainly used separately from the Chinese bronze mirror. At the same time, in the process of sharing small-scale imitated mirrors, Korea shares exclusive ‘Prestige goods(威勢品)’ between cases in which Chinese bronze mirror or multiple small-scale imitated bronze mirror are buried, and plagiarization(盜用) is taking place around them. On the other hand, in Japan, groups that do not own Chinese bronze mirror share a small-scale imitated bronze mirror, and theft and control of Chinese bronze mirror is carried out. These patterns of spread in each region are confirmed to be exclusive in a way that is not shared according to the form of burial of bronze mirror, but it was interpreted that multiple exchanges were made through particular change tendency in each region, the existence of the small-scale imitated bronze mirror which was made by same mold, and the similarity of the overall appearance.