Go of Balhae
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| Go of Balhae | |
|---|---|
| Hangul: | 대조영 |
| Hanja: | 大祚榮 |
| Revised Romanization: | Dae Jo-yeong |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Tae Choyŏng |
Dae Jo-yeong (大祚榮, 대조영; unknown - 719), also known in Korea as King Go (고왕), established the state of Balhae, reigning from 699 to 719. His origin is heavily disputed (see below); most Korean scholars believed that he was of Goguryeo heredity, but most scholars in China believed that he is of Malgal (Mohe) ancestry.
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[edit] Background and Early life
Dae Joyeong was the first son of general Dae Jung-sang (大仲象 or 乞乞仲象) of Goguryeo, and was born in unknown. After the fall of Goguryeo to the Silla-Tang armies, Dae Jung-sang remained in Ansi Fortress, which had not been attacked during the 3rd Goguryeo-Tang war. However In 668, Goguryeo fell, despite father and son fighting bravely. However father and son were taken captive. In the confusion of the Khitan uprising led by Li Jinchong against the Tang (Zhou) in May 696, Dae Jung-sang and the Sumo Mohe leader Geol Sa-Biwoo(乞四比羽) sought independence. In spite of Empress Wu Zetian's appeasement policy, they fled eastward to their homeland.
[edit] Establishing the Empire
The Tang killed Geol Sa-Biwoo, and Dae Jung-sang also died. Dae Jo-yeong integrated the armies of Goguryeo and the Malgal to resist the Tang's attack. His overwhelming victory over the Tang at the Battle of Cheonmun-ryeong (Hangul: 천문령, Hanja: 天門嶺) enabled him to establish his own Kingdom. He claimed himself the King of Jin in 698. He put his capital at Dongmo Mountain in the south of today's Jilin province, and built Dongmo sanseong, which was to become the Great Jin-guk's (Hangul: 대진국, Hanja: 大辰國) capital.
He attempted to expand his influence in international politics involving the Tang, the Göktürks, the Khitan, Silla and some independent Mohe tribes. At first he dispatched an envoy to the Göktürks. Then he reconciled himself with the Tang when Emperor Zhongzong was restored to the throne. In 712, He renamed his empire, Balhae. In 713 he was given the titular title of "Prefecture King of Balhae" by Emperor Xuanzong. Upon reaching a period of rest within the empire, Emperor Go made it clear that Silla was not to be dealt with in a peaceful stance because they were the ones who received the help of the Tang to conquer Goguryeo, which was the predecessor state to Balhae. This aggressive stance toward Silla was continued on by his son and successor Emperor Mu of Balhae.
[edit] Death and Succession
Dae Joyoung died in 719, and his son Dae Muye assumed the throne. Dae Jo-yeong was given the posthumous name "Emperor Go".
[edit] Controversial origins
The origin of Dae Joyeong is disputed. Traditional Korean, Japanese and Chinese historians believed that the founder Dae Joyeong belonged to an ethic minority group in Goguryeo. The Old Book of the Tang says that he was “a non-mainstream ("other") kind of Goguryeo” (고려별종, 高麗別種), while the New Book of the Tang states that he is “from the Sumo Mohe (Malgal) region of the former realm of Goguryeo.” Many modern Koreans believe that Dae Joyeong was "Korean," which was contested by many Russian, Chinese and Japanese scholars.
Old Book of the Tang described Dae Jo-yeong, the founder of Balhae, as a Goguryeo minority. He was the son of the Dae Jung-sang, a leader of Goguryeo remnants. Under the control of Tang, they were urged to move with all of the people to Yingzhou (modern-day Chaoyang). Balhae soon gained control of most of the former Goguryeo territory. According to Japanese old records, The ruling class of Balhae consisted mostly of former citizens of Goguryeo (though it is not clear what their ethnic background was). According to Korean scholars, Balhae declared itself the successor to Goguryeo, and sometimes called itself Goryeoguk (state of Goryeo).
[edit] Republic of Korea Navy
The third KDX-II class destroyer commissioned by Republic of Korea Navy is named Dae Jo-yeong, part of the reason being that Dae Jo-yeong utilised his naval force to expand Balhae's territory. KDX-II class destroyers are named for significant figures in Korean history such as admiral Yi Sunsin.
[edit] Legacy
It is known that Go built a vast army and powerful navy just as his predecessors, the Kings of Goguryeo, had done. Dae Joyoung is still remembered in the Republic of Korea and a television drama was launched during September of 2006 in his honor. Another legacy of Dae Joyoung is his descendants who continue to bear his name. The descendants of Dae Joyoung include the modern-day Koreans who bear the surname "Tae"(태). After the fall of Balhae, the last prince led all of the Balhae aristocracy into the fellow successor state of Goguryeo, Goryeo
| Preceded by Dae Jung-sang |
Emperor of Balhae (Balhae) 699–719 |
Succeeded by Mu of Balhae |
