This crown, crafted with a technique inherited from traditions derived from the arts of the steppe with its thin sheets of hammered gilt metal, consists of a round band crowned by five branches shaped like tridents. Cut out in a symbolic spirit, these branches appear to evoke those of a tree, or the shape of a mountain, or even a bird’s wings. On each side of the headdress, level with the ears, two small gold chains imitate braids. Sometimes jade tiger teeth, directly associated with Shamanic beliefs, enhance these crowns that may thereby symbolise the king’s power and authority. Such headpieces, extremely fragile, were worn by high-ranking personages on rare occasions. This one may come from a tomb in the Kyongsang province and date to the period known as the “Three Kingdoms” (1st century BC-7th century AD).
The evolution of the Silla kingdom crown bands can be divided in three stages, depending on the style of the decorative posts. The crowns of the first bear only three straight posts with symmetrical branches. The next stage, called “standard” style, is usually considered the most refined version of the Silla crown band. With the arrival of Buddhism, become the state religion under the king Beopheung, the third and last stage of the Silla crowns is called the “regression” style, foreseeing the end of the crown tradition. During this period the Silla leaders’ political authority appears to have declined. Even the crowns are either overloaded with ornaments or highly simplified, or sometimes even lacking decoration. They begin to be used by the people, in particular shamans and other spiritual leaders.
