These three swords, each with a ring-shaped pommel, were excavated from the large-scale tombs of Silla and Gaya. Each one has a different openwork decoration inside the ring, featuring dragons or phoenixes. Swords with ring-shaped pommels were prestige goods that reflected the political rank or status of the bearer, so there would have been strict social constraints regarding their ownership. Some swords were bestowed upon local leaders by the central government in order to ensure the effective control of those regions. The dragon and phoenix, imaginary animals that appear in ancient Chinese legends, are considered especially auspicious creatures symbolizing the “Son of the Heavens” (天子). Dragon and phoenix symbols, therefore, represented the possession of the greatest power. For example, the king’s sword from Tomb of King Muryeong the Great also features the image of a dragon.