Bohai

Alternate meaning: Bohai Sea
Bohai (Chinese) or Balhae (Korean) was a kingdom in northeast Asia from AD 698 to 926, occupying parts of Manchuria, northern Korea, and Russian Far East. Bohai was founded by Da Zuorong of the Sumo Mohe tribe and integrated several Mohe tribes and Goguryeo remnants. It was conquered by the Khitan in 926. In the confusion of the Khitan rebellion against Tang in 696, Sumo Mohe tribe, led by Qiqi Zhongxiang and Qisi Piyu, escaped eastward to their homeland. The two leaders died but Da Zuorong, the son of Qiqi Zhongxiang, established the State of Zhen (震 or 振). Da Zuorong established his capital at Dongmu Mountain in the south of today's Jilin province. Since it gained power under protection of the northern nomadic empire of Gokturk, Tang gave Da Zuorong the title of "Prefecture King of Bohai" in 713. Bohai had been a Chinese prefecture, but since then referred to the kingdom. The title was upgraded to "State King of Bohai" in 762. The second king Da Wuyi (Wuwang), who felt encircled by Tang, Silla and Black Water Mohe along the Amur River, attacked Tang and his navy briefly occupied a port on the Shandong Peninsula in 732. Later, a compromise was forged between Tang and Bohai, which resumed tributary mission to Tang. He also sent a mission to Japan in 728 to threaten Silla from the rear. Bohai kept diplomatic and commercial contacts with Japan until the end of the kingdom. Because of its proximity to many powerful states, Bohai became a buffer zone for the region. The third king Da Jinmao (Wen Wang) expanded its territory into the Amur valley in the north and the Liaodong Peninsula in the west. He also established the permanent capital near Lake Jingpo in the south of today's Heilongjiang province around 755. After destroying Bohai in 926, the Khitan established the puppet Dongdan Kingdom, which was soon followed by the annexation by Liao in 936. Bohai aristocrats were moved to Liaoyang but small fragments of the state remained semi-independent. Some Bohai people fled southward to Goryeo, including a son of the last king. Some descendants of the royal family live in Korea, changing their family name to Tae (太). The Jurchen Jin Dynasty favored the Bohai people as well as the Khitans. The fourth, fifth and seventh emperors were mothered by Bohai concubines. The 13th century census of Northern China by the Mongols distinguished Bohai from other ethnic groups such as Goryeo (Korean), Khitan and Jurchen. This suggests that the Bohai people still preserved their identity.

Characterization and political exploitation

The kingdom that straddled the current borders of the PRC, North Korea and Russia has been positioned and politically exploited in various ways. Bohai was once likened to Manchukuo for its friendly relationship with Japan. Currently Japanese scholars oppose both the Korean and Chinese political exploitations and try to treat Bohai as itself. In North and South Korea, Bohai is regarded as a Korean state and is positioned in the "North-South period" (with Silla) today, although such a trend has been marginal for a long time. Based on their belief that Goguryeo was a Korean state, they emphasize its connection with Goguryeo and degrade that with the Mohe. While South Korean historians think ruling class was of Goguryeo and the commoners were Mohe, North Korean historians think Bohai ethnography was mostly Goguryeo. The PRC projects the current border to history. It treat everything that happened in its territory as part of its history. Today the Chinese historians consider Bohai as a local government of the Tang, and think it was ruled by the Bohai ethnic group, which was mostly based on the Mohe. They stress the importance of the Bohai-Tang relationship. Russian scholars think of Bohai as an independent Mohe state, with Central Asian and Chinese influence. They put weight on archaeology. The genealogy of the royal family is also disputed. Koreans claims that the founder Da Zuorong was a Goguryeo. They trusted the description of the Old Book of the Tang and discredit that of the New Book of the Tang for unknown reasons. 21st century Chinese scholars criticize that they made arbitary interpretation for historical sources which depends on whether they suits to their nationalistic belief or not. The Old Book of the Tang says that Dae Joyeong of the Bohai Mohe was a "variant" of Goryeo Goguryeo (高麗別種) while the New Book of the Tang states "originally Sumo Mohe affiliated to Goryeo." However, the term "Mohe" describes people in Manchuria and northern Korea, regardless of ethnic group.

Sovereigns of Bohai (in Chinese) 698-926
Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號) Personal Names Period of Reigns Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years
高王 Gāowng Da Zuorong|大祚榮 D Zurng 698-718 Did not exist
武王 Wǔwng Da Wuyi|大武藝 D Wǔy 718-737 Ren'an (仁安 Rěnān)
文王 Wnwng Da Qinmao|大欽茂 D Qīnmo 737-793 Daxing (大興 Dxīng)
     Baoli (寶曆 Bǎol) 774-?
Daxing (大興 Dxīng)
? Da Yuanyi|大元義 D Yuny 793-794 Zhongxing (中興 Zhngxīng)
成王 Chngwng Da Huaxing|大華興 D Huxīng 794 ?
康王 Kāngwng Da Songlin|大嵩璘 D Sōngln 794-808 Zhengli (正曆 Zhngl)
定王 Dngwng Da Yuanyu|大元瑜 D Yuny 808-812 Yongde (永德 Yǒngd)
僖王 Xīwng Da Yanyi|大言義 D Yny 812-817? Zhuqiao (朱雀 Zhūqiǎo)
簡王 Jiǎnwng Da Mingzhong|大明忠 D Mngzhōng 817?-818? Taishi (太始 Tishǐ)
宣王 Xuānwng Da Renxiu|大仁秀 D Rnxi 818?-830 ?
? Da Yizhen|大彝震 D Yzhn 830-857 ?
? Da Qianhuang|大虔晃 D Qinhuǎng 857-871 ?
? Da Xuanxi|大玄錫 D Xunx 871-895 ?
? Da Weixie|大瑋瑎 D Wěixi 895-907? ?
? Da Yinzhuan|大諲譔 D Yīnzhun 907?-926 ?


Sovereigns of Barhae 698-926 (in Korean)
Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號) Personal Names Period of Reigns Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years
Gowang|고왕|高王 Dae Jo-Yeong|대조영|大祚榮 698-718 Did not exist
Muwang|무왕|武王 Dae Mu-Ye|대무예|大武藝 718-737 In-an (인안|仁安)
Munwang|문왕|文王 Dae Heung-mu|대흥무|大欽茂 737-793 Daeheung (대흥|大興)
     Boryeok (보력|寶曆) 774-?
Daeheung (대흥|大興)
None (disposed) Dae Won-ui|대원의|大元義 793-794 Jungheung (중흥|中興)
Sungwang|성왕|成王 Dae Hua-heung|대화흥|大華興 794 ?
Gangwang|강왕|康王 Dae Seung-rin|대승린|大嵩璘 794-808 Jeongryeok (정력|正曆)
Jungwang|정왕|定王 Dae Won-yu|대원유|大元瑜 808-812 Yeongdeok (영덕|永德)
Huiwang|희왕|僖王 Dae Eon-ui|대언의|大言義 812-817? Jujak (주작|朱雀)
Ganwang|간왕|簡王 Dae Myeong-chung|대명충|大明忠 817?-818? Taesi (태시|太始)
Seonwang|선왕|宣王 Dae In-su|대인수|大仁秀 818?-830 ?
? Dae I-jin|대이진|大彝震 830-857 ?
? Dae Geon-hwang|대건황|大虔晃 857-871 ?
? Dae Hyeon-seok|대현석|大玄錫 871-895 ?
? Dae Wi-gye|대위계|大瑋瑎 895-907? ?
? Dae In-seon|대인선|大諲譔 907?-926 ?
An important source of cultural information on Bohai was discovered at the end of the 20th century at the Ancient Tombs at Longtou Mountain, especially the Mausoleum of Princess Zhenxiao. See also: History of Korea Ethnic groups in Chinese history

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