Mu of Balhae

Mu of Balhae
Hangul 무왕
Hanja 武王
Revised Romanization Mu wang
McCune–Reischauer Mu wang
Birth name
Hangul 대무예
Hanja 大武藝
Revised Romanization Dae Muye
McCune–Reischauer Tae Muye
Monarchs of Korea
Balhae
  1. Go 698-719
  2. Mu 719–737
  3. Mun 737–793
  4. Dae Won-ui 793
  5. Seong 793-794
  6. Gang 794–809
  7. Jeong 809-812
  8. Hui 812–817
  9. Gan 817–818
  10. Seon 818–830
  11. Dae Ijin 831–857
  12. Dae Geonhwang 857–871
  13. Dae Hyeonseok 871–894
  14. Dae Wihae 894–906
  15. Dae Inseon 906–926

Dae Mu-ye, also known as King Mu (Hangul: 무왕; hanja: 武王) (r. 718–737), was the second king of the Balhae. He is noted for the military expansion of his domain.

Background

Dae Mu-ye was the eldest son of Dae Jo-yeong, the founder of the ancient kingdom of Balhae, He ascended to the throne after the death in 719 of his father. He was given the title of "King of the Gyeru Province" by Tang Emperor Xuanzong. He gave the posthumous title King Go to his father, Dae Jo-yeong. Since then, He declared the era name In-an, an act of independence from China's Tang dynasty. On the other hand, he frequently sent embassies to the Tang, including his sons and brothers.

Reign

Balhae's aggressive expansion triggered frictions with Tang China, Silla of southern Korea, the Khitans, the Xi, the Göktürks, and several Mohe tribes. When the Heishui Mohe in the north of Balhae came under the direct control of the Tang in 727, he attacked the Heisui Mohe fearing a pincer attack.

Dae Mun-ye (大門藝), His pro-Tang brother, opposed the military campaign and defected to the Tang. In 732, King Mu ordered a punitive expedition against Tang in present-day Shandong, sending the Balhae navy at the command of Jang Mun-hyu. In the same year, he led troops to Madushan (馬都山) in the vicinity of Shanhaiguan and occupied nearby towns.[1] In 733, Chinese Emperor Xuanzong ordered Dae Mun-ye to attack Balhae, along with forces from Silla, but the attack was unsuccessful and they were repelled.

In 727, Balhae began to dispatch embassies to Japan to avoid international isolation. The king sent an official document to Japan indicating that Balhae recovered the terrain of Goguryeo and succeeded to the culture of Buyeo. Japan, whose relationship with Silla was strained, welcomed them as a revival of Goguryeo.

Dae Muye was succeeded by his son Dae Heummu in 737.

Family

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ New History of Tang Dynasty Wuchengci zhuan, p.4597; Comprehensive Mirror to Add in Government, Vol.210, Xuanzhong Kaiyuan 21st Year, January, “Kaoyi”,p.6800

External links

Preceded by
Go of Balhae		 Kings of Balhae
718–737 		Succeeded by
Mun of Balhae