Jinhan was one of the three tribal confederations which dominated southern Korea during the Samhan period, around the beginning of the Common Era. According to the contemporary Chinese chronicle San Guo Zhi, Jinhan consisted of 12 small countries. Many modern-day scholars regard Jinhan as an alliance of "walled-town states."

Jinhan, like the other Samhan confederacies, arose out of the confusion following the fall of Wiman Joseon and establishment of the Chinese commanderies in the northern part of the Korean peninsula. Its relation to the earlier state of Jin is not clear, although the San Guo Zhi alleges that Jinhan was identical with Jin.

According to Korean legend, one of the Jinhan states, the kingdom of Saro (present-day Gyeongju) was founded by Bak Hyeokgeose in 57 BC, who united the leading clans of the district under his rule. Saro grew to dominate the other Jinhan tribes, and gave rise to the kingdom of Silla.

We know little of the daily life of Jinhan people. The religion appears to have been shamanistic, and to have played an important role in politics as well. Agriculture was heavily dominated by rice, but also included substantial rearing of livestock including horses, cattle, and chickens.

Location

Most theories indicate that Jinhan was located in the area later occupied by the Silla kingdom: the Gyeongju Basin and adjacent East Sea coast. It would have been neighbored by the Byeonhan confederacy on the south, and by the much larger Mahan confederacy on the west. On the north it would have been bounded by the Chinese commanderies and the small coastal state of Dongye. However, some scholars place Jinhan in the Han River valley, bounded by Mahan on the north and Byeonhan on the south.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• History of Korea