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Balhae
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- Alternate meaning: Bohai Sea
Balhae (698 - 926) (Bohai in Chinese, ????? also ????? in Russian) was an ancient multiethnic empire established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-young, a former Goguryeo general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin, later called Balhae. It was a successor state to Goguryeo.
Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria (Northeast China) and Primorsky Krai, and the northern part of the Korean peninsula.
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- Alternate meaning: Bohai Sea
Balhae (698 - 926) (Bohai in Chinese, ????? also ????? in Russian) was an ancient multiethnic empire established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-young, a former Goguryeo general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin, later called Balhae. It was a successor state to Goguryeo.
Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria (Northeast China) and Primorsky Krai, and the northern part of the Korean peninsula. It was defeated by the Khitans in 926, and most of its northern territories were absorbed into the Liao Dynasty while the southern parts were absorbed into Goryeo.
History
Founding
The earliest extant recorded mention of Balhae come from the Book of Tang, which was compiled between 941 to 945. Southern Manchuria and northern Korea were previously the territory of Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Goguryeo fell to the allied forces of Silla and the Tang Dynasty in 668. The Tang annexed much of western Manchuria, while Silla unified the Korean peninsula south of the Taedong River and became Unified Silla. In the "New Book of Tang", it was recorded that the founder of Balhae, Dae Joyeong was a former Goguryeo general.
Expansion and foreign relations
The second emperor Mu (r. 719-737), who felt encircled by Tang, Silla and Black Water Malgal along the Amur River, attacked Tang with his navy in 732 and successfully attacked and killed a Tang prefect based on the Shandong Peninsula. Later, a compromise was forged between Tang and Balhae, which resumed tributary missions to Tang. He also sent a mission to Japan in 728 to threaten Silla from the southeast. Balhae kept diplomatic and commercial contacts with Japan until the end of the empire. Balhae dispatched envoys to Japan 34 times, while Japan sent envoys to Balhae only 13 times.
Because of its proximity to many powerful states, Balhae became a buffer zone for the region.
The third emperor Mun (r. 737-793) expanded its territory into the Amur valley in the north and the Liaodong Peninsula in the west. During his reign, a trade route with Silla, called Sillado, was established. emperor Mun moved the capital of Balhae several times. He also established Sanggyeong, the permanent capital near Lake Jingpo in the south of today's Heilongjiang province around 755. stabilizing and strengthening central rule over various ethnic tribes in his realm, which was expanded temporarily. He also authorized the creation of the Jujagam, the national academy, based on the national academy of Tang. Although China recognized him as a emperor, Balhae itself referred to him as the son of heaven and an emperor.
The tenth emperor Seon reign (r. 818-830), Balhae controlled northern Korea, Northeastern Manchuria and now Primorsky Krai of Russia. emperor Seon led campaigns that resulted in the absorbing of many northern Malgal tribes and southwest Lesser Goguryeo empire, which was located in the Liaodong Peninsula, was absorbed into Balhae. Its strength was such that Silla was forced to build a northern wall in 721 as well as maintain active defences along the common border.
Fall and legacy
Traditionally, historians believed that the ethnic conflicts between the ruling Koreans and underclass Malgal weakened the state. Recent study suggests that the downfall of Balhae is largely due to the catastrophic eruption in the 10th century of Baekdu Mountain located at the center of Balhae territory. Baekdu mountain still has one of the biggest volcanic caldera in the world Heaven Lake. Ashes of this eruption can still be found in a large area, even in a sedimentary layer in northern Japan. This massive explosion century created tremendous volcanic ash, damaging the agriculture and even societal integrity. The Khitans took advantage of this natural disaster.
Eventually, Balhae would succumb to the Khitans, an emerging power in the Liaoxi area (east of current Beijing area). After destroying Balhae in 926, the Khitan established the puppet Dongdan Kingdom, which was soon followed by the annexation by Liao in 936. Some Balhae aristocrats were moved to Liaoyang but Balhae's eastern territory remained politically independent. Some Balhae people including aristocrats (est. 1 million), led by the last Crown Prince Dae Gwang-hyeon, fled southward to Goryeo, the new self-proclaimed successor of Goguryeo (934). Many descendants of the Balhae royal family in Goryeo, changed their family name to Tae (?, ?) while Crown Prince Dae Gwang-hyeon was conferred family name Wang (?, ?), the royal family name of Goryeo dynasty. Balhae was the last state in Korean history to hold any significant territory in Manchuria, although later Korean dynasties would continue to regard themselves as successors of Goguryeo and Balhae. Moreover that was the beginning of series of northern expansion of later Korean dynasties.
The Khitans themselves eventually succumbed to the Jurchen people, who founded the Jin Dynasty. The Jin dynasty favored the Balhae people as well as the Khitans. Jurchen proclamations emphasized the common descent of the Balhae and Jurchen people from the seven Wuji tribes, and proclaimed "Jurchen and Balhae are from the same family". The fourth, fifth and seventh emperors of Jin were mothered by Balhae consorts. The 13th century census of Northern China by the Mongols distinguished Balhae from other ethnic groups such as Goryeo, Khitan and Jurchen. This suggests that the Balhae people still preserved their identity even after the conquest of the empire.
Aftermath
After the fall of Balhae and its last emperor in 926, it was renamed Dongdan by its new Khitan masters , who had control over most of Balhae's old territories. However, starting from 927, many rebellions were triggered throughout the domains. These rebellions were eventually turned into several Balhae revivals. Out of these, only three succeeded and established kingdoms: Later Balhae, Jeong-an kingdom, Heung-yo kingdom and Daewon kingdom. These three kingdoms were able to temporarily chase the Khitan and their Dongdan Kingdom out into the Liaodong peninsula , but they were all eventually decimated by the Liao Empire.
In 934, Dae Gwang-hyeon, the last Crown Prince of Balhae, revolted against their Khitan masters. After being defeated, he fled to Goryeo, where he was granted protection and the imperial surname. This resulted in the Liao breaking off diplomatic relations with Goryeo, but there was no threat to invade.
Government and culture
Balhae was made up of former Goguryeo remnants and of several Tungusic peoples present in Manchuria, of which the native Malgal made up the largest. The Malgal constituted as subject people, some forced into slave status into serving the Goguryeo ruling class. As such, they made the bulk of the labor class. Nevertheless, there were instances of Malgal moving upward into the Balhae elite, however few. Such as the followers of Geolsa Biu, who supported the estalblishment of Balhae. They were limited to the title of "suryong", or "chief", and played a part in the ruling elite. Although rare, some members of Balhae embassies held Malgal surnames.
It is noted that Balhae was a culturally advanced society, as an official from China described it as the "flourishing land of the East." The government operated three chancelleries and six ministries. It is obvious that Balhae's structure was modeled after the Chinese system, however it did not entirely conform to that of the Tang. The "taenaesang" or the "great minister of the court" was superior to the other two chancelleries (the left and the right) and its system of five capitals originates from Goguryeo's administrative structure. Balhae, like Silla, sent many students to Tang to study, and many went on to take and pass the Chinese civil service examinations.() As consequence, the Balhae capital of Sanggyong was organized in the way of Tang's capital of Chang-an. Residential sectors were laid out on either side of the palace surrounded by a rectangular wall.
The principal roots of Balhae culture was that of Goguryeo origins. An Ondol installation was uncovered in the inner citidel of the Balhae palace and many others adjacent to it. Furthermore, Buddhist statuaries and motifs were found in Balhae temples that reflect that of distinctive Goguryeo art. An important source of cultural information on Balhae was discovered at the end of the 20th century at the Ancient Tombs at Longtou Mountain, especially the Mausoleum of Princess Jeong-Hyo.
Characterization and political interpretation
Controversy rests over the ethnic makeup of the people of Balhae. That Balhae was founded by a former general from Goguryeo is undisputed, but there is some dispute over his ethnicity, due to ambiguous wording in historical sources. No written records from Balhae itself survive.
Koreans have regarded Balhae as a Korean state, particularly from the Joseon Dynasty onwards. The 18th century, during the Joseon Dynasty, was a period in which Korean scholars began a renewed interest in Balhae. The Qing and Joseon dynasties had negotiated and demarcated the Sino-Korean border along the Yalu and Tumen rivers in 1712, and Jang Ji-yeon (1762–1836), journalist, writer of nationalist tracts, and organizer of nationalist societies, published numerous articles arguing that had the Joseon officials considered Balhae part of their territory, they would not be as eager to "give up" lands north of the rivers. Yu Deuk-gong in his eighteenth-century work Balhaego (An investigation of Balhae) argued that Balhae should be included as part of Korean history, and that doing so would justify territorial claims on Manchuria. Korean historian Sin Chae-ho, writing about Jiandao in the early twentieth century, bemoaned that for centuries, Korean people in their “hearts and eyes considered only the land south of the Yalu River as their home” and that “half of our ancestor Dangun ancient lands have been lost for over nine hundred years.” Sin also criticized Kim Busik, author of the Samguk Sagi, for excluding Balhae from his historical work and claiming that Silla had achieved unification of Korea.
In modern North and South Korea, Balhae is regarded as a Korean state and is positioned in the "North South States Period" (with Silla) today, although such a view has had proponents in the past. They emphasize its connection with Goguryeo and minimize that with the Mohe. While South Korean historians think the ethnicity ruling class was of Goguryeo and the commoners were mixed, including Mohe, North Korean historians think Balhae ethnography was mostly Goguryeo. Koreans believe the founder Dae Joyeong was of Goguryeo stock. The Book of Tang says that Dae Joyeong was a "Goguryeo variant" (????, ????), and the New Book of Tang states that he is "from the Sumo Mohe region of the former realm of Goguryeo."
In the West, Balhae is generally characterized as a successor to Goguryeo that traded with China and Japan, and its name is romanized from Korean. It is seen as composed of peoples of northern Manchuria and northern Korea, with its founder and the ruling class consisting largely of the former aristocrats of Goguryo. Korean scholars believe Balhae founder Dae Joyeong was of Goguryeo ethnicity, while others believe he was an ethnic Mohe from Goguryeo.
South Korean archeologist Song Ki-ho, who is a noted professor of Seoul National University and has published several papers criticizing the Chinese government, made several visits to China in the 1990s, 2000, 2003, and 2004, examined several historical sites and museums. However, he found himself restricted by limitations on note-taking and photography and even ejected from several sites by museum employees.
North Korea has restricted independent archaeologists from its historical sites, many of which may be Balhae-related, since at least the early 1960s. Foreign scholars have criticized political bias in North Korean historiography, and have accused North Korean scholars of reconstructing or even fabricating historical sites.
Scholars from South and North Korea, Russia and Japan assert that Balhae was independent in its relations with the Tang Dynasty. Most Russian archaeologists and scholars describe Balhae as a kingdom of displaced Goguryo people. They do admit that Balhae had a strong Chinese and Central Asian influence.
In relations with Japan, Balhae referred to itself as Goguryeo, and Japan welcomed this as a kind of restoration of its former friendly relationship with Goguryeo.
Sovereigns of Balhae 698-926
| # | Personal name | Period of reign | Era name | Posthumous name |
|---|
| Romanization | Hangul/Chinese characters | Romanization | Hangul/Chinese characters | Romanization | Hangul/Chinese characters |
|---|
| 0 | Dae Jung-sang
Qiqi Zhòngxiàng | ???
??? | 668-699 | Junggwang
Zhongguang | ??
?? | | | | 1 | Dae Jo-yeong
Dà Zuòróng | ???
??? | 699-718 | Cheontong
Tiantong | ??
?? | Go/Gao | ??
?? | | 2 | Dae Mu-ye
Dà Wuyì | ???
??? | 718-737 | Inan
Ren’an | ??
?? | Mu/Wu | ??
?? | | 3 | Dae Heum-mu
Dà Qinmào | ???
??? | 737-793 | Daeheung
Dàxing * | ??
?? * | Mun/Wén | ??
?? | | 4 | Dae Won-ui
Dà Yuányì | ???
??? | 793-794 | None | None | None | None | | 5 | Dae Hwa-yeo
Dà Huáyú | ???
??? | 794 | Jungheung
Zhòngxing | ??
?? | Seong/Chéng | ??
?? | | 6 | Dae Sung-rin
Dà Songlín | ???
??? | 794-808 | Jeongryeok
Zhènglì | ??
?? | Gang/Kang | ??
?? | | 7 | Dae Won-yu
Dà Yuányú | ???
??? | 808-812 | Yeongdeok
Yongdé | ??
?? | Jeong/Dìng | ??
?? | | 8 | Dae Eon-ui
Dà Yányì | ???
??? | 812-817? | Jujak
Zhuqiao | ??
?? | Hui/Xi | ??
?? | | 9 | Dae Myeong-chung
Dà Míngzhong | ???
??? | 817?-818? | Taesi
Tàishi | ??
?? | Gan/Jian | ??
?? | | 10 | Dae In-su
Dà Rénxiù | ???
??? | 818?-830 | Geonheung
Jiànxing | ??
?? | Seon/Xuan | ??
?? | | 11 | Dae Ijin
Dà Yízhèn | ???
??? | 830-857 | Hamhwa
Xiánhé | ??
?? | Unknown | Unknown | | 12 | Dae Geonhwang
Dà Qiánhuang | ???
??? | 857-871 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | | 13 | Dae Hyeon-seok
Dà Xuánxí | ???
??? | 871-895 | Unknown | Unknown | Gyeong/Jing | ??
?? | | 14 | Dae Wihae
Dà Weijie | ???
??? | 895-906 | None | None | None | None | | 15 | Dae In-seon
Dà Yinzhuàn | ???
??? | 906-926 | Unknown | Unknown | Ae/Ai | ??
?? | |
Note : Dae Heummu had another era name Boryeok (Hangul :?? Hanja: ??; 774-?)
Media
Balhae is mentioned in a Korean film called Shadowless Sword, which is about the last prince of Balhae. Also in a Korean TV drama, which started in September 2006, featured the founder of Balhae Dae Jo Yeong. Currently the series has completed airing.
Work Cited
See also
External links
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