Balhae

Balhae (Parhae) / Bohai (Pohai)
渤海 (Korean) (Hanja)
발해 (Hangul)
Balhae
渤海 (Chinese)
Bóhǎi, Bohea
698–926
The territory of Balhae in 830, during the reign of King Seon (Xuan) of Balhae.
CapitalDongmo Mountain
(698–742)
Central capital
(742–756)
Upper capital
(756–785)
Eastern capital
(785–793)
Upper capital
(793–926)
Common languagesBalhae
Co-official languagesGoguryeo (Koreanic),
Proto-Tungusic,
Classical Chinese (literary)
Religion
Buddhism,
Shamanism,
Confucianism
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
 698–719
Go (Gao) (first)
 719–737
Mu (Wu)
 737–793
Mun (Wen)
 818–830
Seon (Xuan)
 907–926
Dae Inseon (Da Yinzhuan) (last)
History 
 Dae Jung-sang begins military campaigns
696
 Establishment in Tianmenling
698
 "Balhae" as a kingdom name
713
 Fall of Sang-gyeong
14 January 926
Population
 10th century
1.5–4 million
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Goguryeo
Mohe Peoples
Liao dynasty
Dongdan
Goryeo
Later Balhae
Jurchens
Today part ofChina
North Korea
Russia
Balhae
Korean name
Hangul발해
Hanja渤海
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationBalhae
McCune–ReischauerParhae
Alternative Korean name
Hangul진국
Hanja震國
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationJinguk
Chinese name
Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinBóhǎi
Wade–GilesPo-hai
Russian name
RussianБохай
RomanizationBohai
Manchu name
Manchu script ᡦᡠᡥᠠ‍ᡳ
RomanizationPuhai

Balhae, also rendered as Bohai or Bohea, and called Jin (Korean: 진국; Hanja: 震國; Korean pronunciation: [tɕinguk̚]) early on, was a multiethnic kingdom established in 698 by Dae Joyeong (Da Zuorong). It was originally known as the Kingdom of Jin (震, Zhen) until 713 when its name was changed to Balhae. 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.

Balhae's early history involved a rocky relationship with the Tang dynasty that saw military and political conflict, but by the end of the 8th century the relationship had become cordial and friendly. The Tang dynasty would eventually recognize Balhae as the "Prosperous Country of the East". Numerous cultural and political exchanges were made. Balhae was conquered by the Khitan-led Liao dynasty in 926. Balhae survived as a distinct population group for another three centuries in the Liao and Jin dynasties before disappearing under Mongol rule.

The history surrounding the origin of the state, its ethnic composition, the modern cultural affiliation of the ruling dynasty, the reading of their names, and its borders are the subject of a historiographical dispute between Korea, China and Russia. Historical sources from both China and Korea have described Balhae's founder, Dae Joyeong, as related to the Mohe people and Goguryeo.