 Subsequent to the fall of
Goguryeo, Dae Joyeong, a former Goguryeo general, formed an
army of Goguryeo and Malgal (a Tungusic tribe) people, and led
a migration to Chinese-controlled territory. They settled eventually
near Jilin in Manchuria, and there founded a state which was
at first called Jin, but in 713 was renamed Balhae (Bohai in
Chinese). Balhae soon gained control of most of the former Goguryeo
territory. The ruling class of Balhae consisted mostly of Goguryeo
(i.e. Korean) people. Balhae declared itself the successor to
Goguryeo, and sometimes called itself Goryeoguk (state of Goryeo).
Balhae prosperity reached its height in the first half of the
ninth century during the reign of King Seon. At that time, Balhae
territory extended from the Sungari and Amur rivers in northern
Manchuria all the way down to the northern provinces of modern
Korea. Its capital was Donggyeong, in the Jilin area, where
the state had originally been founded.
Balhae was to become a victim of the political confusion and
violence which accompanied the fall of the Tang Dynasty. In
926 the Khitan, who later came to dominate much of Manchuria
and northern China, conquered Balhae. Many of the ruling class,
who were mostly Koreans, moved south and joined the newly founded
Goryeo Dynasty, which replaced Silla at that time.
While the Manchurian portion of the Balhae territory was lost,
the area south of the Amnok (Yalu)-Duman (Tumen) boundary was
restored later by Goryeo. |
