The Change and Use of Baekje Mounted Dishes in the Geumgang River Basin Region

This study analyzes Baekje mounted dishes from the Geumgang River basin, examining their introduction and transformation across different stages and regions, as well as the factors contributing to their usage and decline. Baekje mounted dishes are classified into 24 types based on nominal attributes such as the presence or absence of lids, rim shapes, stem shapes, and dish body shapes, as well as metrical attributes like stem placement and bowl depth. By establishing regional phases across six areas and combining these phases, the inflow and disappearance of mounted dishes in the Geumgang River basin were divided into six stages to trace their changes over time. In Stage Ⅰ-1, mounted dishes of the Hanseong central type appear in various regions, while Stage Ⅰ-2 sees the greatest variety of mounted dish forms. By Stage Ⅱ-1, the forms become increasingly standardized and simplified, and by Stage Ⅱ-2, their numbers begin to decline despite further standardization. In Stage Ⅲ-1, their numbers drop sharply, and by Stage Ⅲ-2, mounted dishes with stems reduced to a foot-like shape are identified in small quantities, indicating a shift in function from tableware to other uses. The Geumgang River basin also reveals numerous foreign mounted dishes, with evidence of local production. Stage Ⅰ features protruding-rim mounted dishes related to Gaya and Silla across several areas, while Stage Ⅱ includes mounted dishes with mixed foreign characteristics. The function and use of Baekje mounted dishes are thought to be related to Chinese dou (豆) and gaozupan (高足盤) vessels, likely serving as side-dish tableware. Their decline is linked to the emergence and popularity of new types of vessels with a low foot, such as the mounted bowl, influenced by the dietary culture of Goguryeo and China. As the high-table dining culture became established, mounted dishes were re-purposed for uses such as lamps and incense burners before eventually disappearing.