Bihwa Gaya

Bihwa Gaya
Hangul	비화가야
Hanja	非火伽倻
Revised Romanization	Bihwa Gaya
McCune–Reischauer	Pihwa Kaya

Bihwa Gaya, also known as Bijabal, was one of the kingdoms of the Gaya confederacy during the Three Kingdoms Period. It was based near the modern city center of Changnyeong County in South Gyeongsang province, South Korea. It was conquered by Silla in the 6th century, before 555.

Bihwa Gaya is mentioned in the Goryeo Saryak and under the name "Bijabal" in the Japanese chronicle Nihonshoki. It may have arisen from the 3rd century Jinhan state of Bulsaguk (불사국, 不斯國) which was probably also located in Changnyeong. Archeological evidence suggests a close relationship between Bihwa Gaya and nearby Silla, although as part of the Gaya confederacy Bihwa would frequently have been at war with Silla.

The royal tombs of Bihwa Gaya are located in Gyo-dong, Changnyeong-eup, in Changnyeong County. Some of these tombs were excavated during the period of Japanese occupation in 1918, but all records of that excavation have been lost. In 1973, a team of researchers from Busan's Dong-A University excavated several remaining tombs. These tombs appear to have been constructed in the 5th century. Some of them show indications of live burial of members of the royal household. In 1996, a museum focused on the relics of the Bihwa Gaya period opened adjacent to the tombs.

See also