Mahan’s Foreign Relations and Iksan as Seen Through Documentary Records

Abstract

The Mahan Confederacy pursued external relations centered around the powerful state of Mokji, but smaller states also pursued individual external relations. Therefore, Mahan, which interacted with West Jin, may have been Baekje representing the Mahan Confederacy. However, it is also possible that forces such as Mahan small states or the Shinmi state, which have not yet been merged into Baekje, were the main agents of the relations. The Mahan confederacy had interacted with neighboring states within the Three Han Primitive States(Samhan) region such as the Jinhan and Byeonhan, as well as with neighboring states across the sea such as Juho and Wa(Japan). They also had direct interactions with China such as the Later Han(25-220 CE), Cao Wei(220-266 CE), and Western Jin(265-316 CE) dynasties, and had relations with Lolang and Daifang counties. These interactions took various forms, such as sending envoys, tribute, or engaging in warfare, including official and unofficial goods exchanges. The Mahan smaller states, which were located in the Iksan area, also engaged in an exchange with surrounding small states. After the formation of the Mahan Confederacy, it would have participated in foreign exchanges as a powerful country representing the entire Mahan or as a regional power. Such exchanges would have continued until the early 4th century when the Iksan area was fully integrated into Baekje.