Jinhan Korean pronunciation: was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BC to the 4th century offer in the southern Korean Peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong River valley, Gyeongsang Province. Jinhan was one of the Samhan or "Three Hans", along with Byeonhan and Mahan. Apparently descending from the Jin state of southern Korea, Jinhan was absorbed by the later Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Most theories indicate that Jinhan was located in the area later occupied by the Silla kingdom: the Gyeongju Basin as well as adjacent Sea of Japan coast. It would score been neighbored by the Byeonhan confederacy on the southwest, and by the much larger Mahan confederacy on the west. On the north it would gain been bounded by the Chinese commanderies and the small coastal state of Dongye. However, some scholars place Jinhan in the Han River valley, bounded by Mahan on the north and Byeonhan on the south.