Balhae: Map & History
Parhae, also rendered as Bohai or Balhae, and called Jin early on, was a multiethnic kingdom established in 698 by Tae Choyŏng.
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Parhae, also rendered as Bohai or Balhae, and called Jin early on, was a multiethnic kingdom established in 698 by Tae Choyŏng. It was originally known as the Kingdom of Jin until 713, when its name was changed to Parhae. At its greatest extent it corresponded to what is today Northeast China, the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and the southeastern Russian Far East.
Modern Countries Once Part of Balhae
At its mapped extent, Balhae covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Balhae's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Balhae in Depth
History
According to Old Book of Tang, after Goguryeo was defeated by the Tang, Tae Choyŏng (Da Zuorong) led his relatives to settle in Yingzhou (營州, modern-day Chaoyang) until they were disturbed by a Khitan rebellion in 696. Li Jinzhong (Wushang Khan) of the Khitans along with his brother-in-law Sun Wanrong rebelled against Tang (Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty) hegemony, killed an abusive Tang commander, and attacked Hebei. Li died soon after and Sun succeeded him, only to be defeated by the Second Turkic Khaganate.
The population of Yingzhou fled eastward toward the Liao River during the turmoil.
Government
Parhae adopted Chinese institutions to organize its central political system. The Three Departments and Six Ministries system, which was fully developed during the Tang dynasty, later became the standard model for government organization in many East Asian states, and Parhae also incorporated it. Parhae divided its administrative regions into 15 provinces (bu), which were further subdivided into 62 prefectures (ju).
During the reign of King Mun of Parhae, the state adopted and modified the Tang dynasty’s Three Departments and Six Ministries system. While the administrative structure was reorganized based on the Tang model, both the names and operational functions were adapted to local conditions.
Military
Parhae's military organization consisted of a central army divided into ten guard units (wi, 衛) responsible for protecting the royal palace and the capital. Local militias were organized in the 15 local provinces (bu) for other regions according to the regional administrative structures, with local officials commanding them. Independent troops were stationed at key border points for defense.
The development of Parhae's military system can be broadly divided into three phases. The first phase involved establishing administrative systems for the newly expanded territories during the early stages of the kingdom's founding. The second phase saw the establishment of the ten guards as recorded in the Xin Tangshu (New Book of Tang).
Economy and trade
Under Parhae, the region's agriculture became much more widespread and well-developed than in previous centuries, especially in the north. Millet, barley, soy beans and rice were the main type of crops cultivated in Parhae. Some of its specialized regional produce, such as rice, fermented beans, plums and pears, were much sought after. Fishing and hunting also remained important among Parhae people. Parhae also produced fine iron and copper wares, silk and linen textiles, and ceramics, including Sancai pottery developed under the influence of that of the Tang. Whaling was also done, albeit this was mostly done as tribute to the Tang.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Parhae (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Balhae: Key Facts
| Capitals | Dongmosan, Site of the Middle Capital of the Balhae Kingdom, Shangjing Longquanfu, Donggyeong Yongwonbu |
|---|---|
| Founded | 698 CE |
| Dissolved | 926 CE |
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q28322 (CC0).
Balhae Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Balhae appears, with the other states of the time.
Balhae Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 487,475 km² in 924 CE.
Balhae: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Balhae exist?
Balhae is dated to 705 CE – 925 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Balhae?
The capital of Balhae was Dongmo Mountain, (698–742), Central capital, (742–756), Upper capital, (756–785), Eastern capital, (785–793), Upper capital, (793–926).
How large was Balhae at its peak?
At its peak in 924 AD Balhae covered about 487,475 km².
How did the map of Balhae change over time?
Balhae appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 750 CE to 900 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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