kingdom · Korea and Japan

Ara Gaya

200 CE – 560 CE (approx.) · capital Haman

A major Gaya kingdom at Haman, known for its flame-pattern stoneware and as host of diplomatic conferences between Baekje, Silla and Japan.

Origins

Ara Gaya, the Anra of Japanese sources, developed from Anya-guk, a Byeonhan statelet in the Haman basin southwest of the Nakdong. According to Korean chronicles it was attacked in the early 3rd century by the eight port states of the coast and saved by Silla.

Rule and society

After Geumgwan Gaya declined around 400, Ara Gaya became, with Daegaya, one of the two leading Gaya states. Hilltop tombs at Malisan hold armour, horse gear and distinctive stoneware with flame-shaped openings. In the 6th century it convened talks with envoys of Baekje, Silla and Yamato as the Gaya states tried to survive between their neighbours.

Decline and legacy

Caught between Baekje and Silla, Ara Gaya was taken by Silla around 560, shortly before the fall of Daegaya, and became a Silla county.

Connections (2)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Ara Gaya. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/ara-gaya
MLA
“Ara Gaya.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/ara-gaya. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Ara Gaya.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/ara-gaya.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Ara Gaya’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/ara-gaya (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻