Hwasan

Ancient Hwasan
During this time period Hwasan, also known as the Three Kingdoms Period, the region of modern day Hwasan was divided intro three major kingdoms; Cheolsan, Hayanju, and Daegang. By 200 ACE the fortified settlement of Gwangsu on the western coast of Hayanju had became a crossroad of trade and cultural mingling between Yedal and Eastern Yoju. Around this time Buddhism was introduced to Hayanju and would achieve rapid popularity among the aristocracy. would have a significant impact on daily life and Hayanju would see an influx of Buddhist scholars and monastics travel to the state as advisers.

Cheolsan and Daegang would later adopt Buddhism as well, though synthesizing more syncretic philosophies and traditions from the imported teachings. Hayanju would become increasingly more dominant among its neighbors, being at the crossroads of trade between Sinju, Yedal, and Yoju. Increasing centralization and consolidation would occur as other powers on Yedal as well as growing expansionist empires in eastern Yoju became a more immediate threat.

The Treaty of 305 ACE would see Hayanju and Cheolsan united, Daegang would later be incorporated following the Spring War in 310 ACE. The Song Dynasty would arise as the preeminent noble clan among the Hwasense states in western Yedal, effectively controlling all of modern day Hwasan by its time of its incorporation into Tianqi.

Classical Hwasan
Having been unified under a singular dynasty the state began to further consolidate the various regions under its control. The emergent need for a more comprehensive state bureaucracy would lead to a number of socio-political changes which were influenced by Confucian ideas from mainland Sinju. Around 350 ACE Hwasan was formally incorporated into Tianqi as a tributary state. This is also the first verified written account of the name “Hwasan” (lit. flowering mountain) being utilized to refer to the kingdom.