Yuezhi, Pioneers of the Silk Road

This work argues that falconry’s arrival in Japan was not a simple cultural transfer, but the spread of an imperial symbol rooted in Baekje’s legacy. Drawing on sources such as the Tomb Memorial of Buyeo Yung, the Gwanggaeto Stele, and the Sanguozhi, it challenges the view of Baekje as a minor regional power. Archaeological artifacts—from the gilded crowns of Bannam to the “Eung-yu” vessels of Naju—point to a wider maritime influence. The study explores the symbolic meaning of “Falcon” in place names and royal culture, linking it to political authority and unification under King Seong. Using approaches such as “Physics of Distance” and toponymy, Dr. Tong Park reconstructs the vision of a far-reaching Baekje-centered order across East Asia.