Bohai

Alternate meaning: Bohai Sea

Bohai (渤海 Pinyin: BÃÂÃÂ³hǎi; Wade-Giles: po hai;) or in the Korean context Balhae (or Barhae; Hangul: 발해) was a kingdom in northeast Asia from AD 698 to 926, occupying parts of modern-day China (Manchuria), Korea, and Russia. Bohai was founded by Da Zuorong (Dae Joyeong), who was from Sumo Mohe (粟末靺鞨) ethnic group and/or a former general of Goguryeo, 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). Since it gained power under protection 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.

After destroyed Bohai in 926, the Khitan put the state of Eastern Khitan, 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 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.

Different Perspectives Regarding Bohai

Both North and South Korean historians generally regard Bohai as an independent sovereign state succeeded Goguryeo. Old Book of Tang(舊唐書) describes Dae Jo-Yeong (Da Zuorong) as Goryeo-kind (高麗別種), and they think Bohai culture was influenced by Goguryeo. But while South Korean historians think ruling class was of Goguryeo and commoners were Mohe, North Korean historians think Bohai ethnography was mostly Goguryeo.

Chinese historians after Cultural Revolution consider Bohai as local government of T'ang, and think Bohai people were mostly Mohe. New Book of Tang(新唐書) describes Da Zuorung as Sumo Mohe.

Russian historians think of Bohai as an independent Mohe state, with Central Asian and Goguryeo influence.

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 GāowÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Zuorong|大祚榮 DÃÂÃÂ ZuÃÂÃÂ²rÃÂÃÂ³ng 698-718 Did not exist
武王 WǔwÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Wuyi|大武藝 DÃÂÃÂ WǔyÃÂÃÂ¬ 718-737 Ren'an (仁安 Rěnān)
文王 WÃÂÃÂ©nwÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Qinmao|大欽茂 DÃÂÃÂ QīnmÃÂÃÂ o 737-793 Daxing (大興 DÃÂÃÂ xīng)

Baoli (寶曆 BǎolÃÂÃÂ¬) 774-?

Daxing (大興 DÃÂÃÂ xīng)

? Da Yuanyi|大元義 DÃÂÃÂ YuÃÂÃÂ¡nyÃÂÃÂ¬ 793-794 Zhongxing (中興 ZhÃÂÃÂ²ngxīng)
成王 ChÃÂÃÂ©ngwÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Huaxing|大華興 DÃÂÃÂ HuÃÂÃÂ¡xīng 794 ?
康王 KāngwÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Songlin|大嵩璘 DÃÂÃÂ SōnglÃÂÃÂn 794-808 Zhengli (正曆 ZhÃÂÃÂ¨nglÃÂÃÂ¬)
定王 DÃÂÃÂ¬ngwÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Yuanyu|大元瑜 DÃÂÃÂ YuÃÂÃÂ¡nyÃÂÃÂº 808-812 Yongde (永德 YǒngdÃÂÃÂ©)
僖王 XīwÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Yanyi|大言義 DÃÂÃÂ YÃÂÃÂ¡nyÃÂÃÂ¬ 812-817? Zhuqiao (朱雀 Zhūqiǎo)
簡王 JiǎnwÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Mingzhong|大明忠 DÃÂÃÂ MÃÂÃÂngzhōng 817?-818? Taishi (太始 TÃÂÃÂ ishǐ)
宣王 XuānwÃÂÃÂ¡ng Da Renxiu|大仁秀 DÃÂÃÂ RÃÂÃÂ©nxiÃÂÃÂ¹ 818?-830 ?
? Da Yizhen|大彝震 DÃÂÃÂ YÃÂÃÂzhÃÂÃÂ¨n 830-857 ?
? Da Qianhuang|大虔晃 DÃÂÃÂ QiÃÂÃÂ¡nhuǎng 857-871 ?
? Da Xuanxi|大玄錫 DÃÂÃÂ XuÃÂÃÂ¡nxÃÂÃÂ 871-895 ?
? Da Weixie|大瑋瑎 DÃÂÃÂ WěixiÃÂÃÂ© 895-907? ?
? Da Yinzhuan|大諲譔 DÃÂÃÂ YīnzhuÃÂÃÂ n 907?-926 ?

**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 GāowÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Zuorong\|大祚榮 DÃÂÃÂ ZuÃÂÃÂ²rÃÂÃÂ³ng	698-718	Did not exist
武王 WǔwÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Wuyi\|大武藝 DÃÂÃÂ WǔyÃÂÃÂ¬	718-737	Ren'an (仁安 Rěnān)
文王 WÃÂÃÂ©nwÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Qinmao\|大欽茂 DÃÂÃÂ QīnmÃÂÃÂ o	737-793	Daxing (大興 DÃÂÃÂ xīng) Baoli (寶曆 BǎolÃÂÃÂ¬) 774-? Daxing (大興 DÃÂÃÂ xīng)
?	Da Yuanyi\|大元義 DÃÂÃÂ YuÃÂÃÂ¡nyÃÂÃÂ¬	793-794	Zhongxing (中興 ZhÃÂÃÂ²ngxīng)
成王 ChÃÂÃÂ©ngwÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Huaxing\|大華興 DÃÂÃÂ HuÃÂÃÂ¡xīng	794	?
康王 KāngwÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Songlin\|大嵩璘 DÃÂÃÂ SōnglÃÂÃÂn	794-808	Zhengli (正曆 ZhÃÂÃÂ¨nglÃÂÃÂ¬)
定王 DÃÂÃÂ¬ngwÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Yuanyu\|大元瑜 DÃÂÃÂ YuÃÂÃÂ¡nyÃÂÃÂº	808-812	Yongde (永德 YǒngdÃÂÃÂ©)
僖王 XīwÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Yanyi\|大言義 DÃÂÃÂ YÃÂÃÂ¡nyÃÂÃÂ¬	812-817?	Zhuqiao (朱雀 Zhūqiǎo)
簡王 JiǎnwÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Mingzhong\|大明忠 DÃÂÃÂ MÃÂÃÂngzhōng	817?-818?	Taishi (太始 TÃÂÃÂ ishǐ)
宣王 XuānwÃÂÃÂ¡ng	Da Renxiu\|大仁秀 DÃÂÃÂ RÃÂÃÂ©nxiÃÂÃÂ¹	818?-830	?
?	Da Yizhen\|大彝震 DÃÂÃÂ YÃÂÃÂzhÃÂÃÂ¨n	830-857	?
?	Da Qianhuang\|大虔晃 DÃÂÃÂ QiÃÂÃÂ¡nhuǎng	857-871	?
?	Da Xuanxi\|大玄錫 DÃÂÃÂ XuÃÂÃÂ¡nxÃÂÃÂ	871-895	?
?	Da Weixie\|大瑋瑎 DÃÂÃÂ WěixiÃÂÃÂ©	895-907?	?
?	Da Yinzhuan\|大諲譔 DÃÂÃÂ YīnzhuÃÂÃÂ n	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
Go Wang|고왕|高王 Dae Jo Yong|대조영|大祚榮 698-718 Did not exist
Mu Wang|무왕|武王 Dae Mu Ye|대무예|大武藝 718-737 In An (인안|仁安)
Mun Wang|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 Eui|대원의|大元義 793-794 Jung Heung (중흥|中興)
Sung Wang|성왕|成王 Dae Hua Heung|대화흥|大華興 794 ?
Gang Wang|강왕|康王 Dae Seung Lin|대승린|大嵩璘 794-808 Jeong Ryok (정력|正曆)
Jung Wang|정왕|定王 Dae Won Yu|대원유|大元瑜 808-812 Yong Deok (영덕|永德)
Heui Wang|희왕|僖王 Dae Un Eui|대언의|大言義 812-817? Ju Jak (주작|朱雀)
Gan Wang|간왕|簡王 Dae Myong Chung|대명충|大明忠 817?-818? Tae Shi (태시|太始)
Seon Wang|선왕|宣王 Dae In Su|대인수|大仁秀 818?-830 ?
? Dae Ih Jin|대이진|大彝震 830-857 ?
? Da Geon Hwang|대건황|大虔晃 857-871 ?
Kyong Wang|경왕|景王 Dae Hyon Seok|대현석|大玄錫 871-895 ?
? Dae Wi Kye|대위계|大瑋瑎 895-907? ?
? Dae In Seon|대인선|大諲譔 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
Go Wang\|고왕\|高王	Dae Jo Yong\|대조영\|大祚榮	698-718	Did not exist
Mu Wang\|무왕\|武王	Dae Mu Ye\|대무예\|大武藝	718-737	In An (인안\|仁安)
Mun Wang\|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 Eui\|대원의\|大元義	793-794	Jung Heung (중흥\|中興)
Sung Wang\|성왕\|成王	Dae Hua Heung\|대화흥\|大華興	794	?
Gang Wang\|강왕\|康王	Dae Seung Lin\|대승린\|大嵩璘	794-808	Jeong Ryok (정력\|正曆)
Jung Wang\|정왕\|定王	Dae Won Yu\|대원유\|大元瑜	808-812	Yong Deok (영덕\|永德)
Heui Wang\|희왕\|僖王	Dae Un Eui\|대언의\|大言義	812-817?	Ju Jak (주작\|朱雀)
Gan Wang\|간왕\|簡王	Dae Myong Chung\|대명충\|大明忠	817?-818?	Tae Shi (태시\|太始)
Seon Wang\|선왕\|宣王	Dae In Su\|대인수\|大仁秀	818?-830	?
?	Dae Ih Jin\|대이진\|大彝震	830-857	?
?	Da Geon Hwang\|대건황\|大虔晃	857-871	?
Kyong Wang\|경왕\|景王	Dae Hyon Seok\|대현석\|大玄錫	871-895	?
?	Dae Wi Kye\|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.

External links

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia article on Parhae (Barhae/Bohai)