뉴스레터

On April 14, 2017, the Northeast Asian History Foundation held at its grand conference room an international academic conference under the theme "The Construction and Operation of Balhae's Donggyeong Yongwonbu." The purpose of the conference, which was jointly hosted with the Association of Koguryo Balhae, was to reexamine the historical significance in constructing and operating Donggyeong, or the eastern capital among the five capitals of the ancient Korean kingdom Balhae. Donggyeong's administrative metropolis used to be located at Palyeonseong (Baliancheng), which is today's Hunchun (琿春) in Jilin Province, China. Presentations and in-depth discussions took place to determine the significance of Balhae remains by comparing excavation reports that have so far been released.

With Research Fellow Lee Seong-je, director of the NAHF Research Institute of Korea-China Relations, serving as chairperson, the event began with opening remarks by NAHF President Kim Ho-sup, a welcoming speech by Gong Seok-gu, president of the Association of Koguryo Balhae, and a congratulatory address by Assemblyman Lee Dong-seop, who is a member of the Korean national assembly's Education, Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. Four presentations were each given through the first and second session of the conference, followed by a general discussion in the conference's third session. The first session was moderated by Research Fellow Kim Jin-gwang of the Academy of Korean Studies, while Professor Yang Si-eun of Chungbuk National University moderated the second session.

The morning session began with a presentation about "The Historic Origin and Locality of Donggyeong" by Professor Ku Nan-hee of the Academy of Korean Studies, which was followed by two more presentations by Korean scholars, "Palyeonseong's Layout and Roof Tile Production System" by Professor Yun Jae-woon of Daegu University and "Balhae-Japan Exchanges in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries" by NAHF Research Fellow Lim Sang-sun. The session ended with a presentation by Professor Kojima Yoshitaka of Japan's Kanazawa University on "An Assessment of Hanamdungoseong, Seogoseong, and Palyeonseong Using the Chronology of Roof Tiles." Presentations given in the afternoon session were "Archaeological Discoveries at the North and South Gates of Sanggyeongseong's Outer Wall" by Research Fellow Jin Taishun of the Archaeological Institute of Heilongjiang, "The Correlation Between the Architectural Techniques of Balhae and Silla Based on an Analysis of Reports on Balhae Fortress Excavations" by Professor Lee Byeong-geon of Tongwon University, "A Study of the Administrative Metropolis of Donggyeong yongwonbu and its Four Provinces" by Professor Zheng Yongzhen of Yanbian University, and "On the Construction Method of Balhae Fortress Walls" by Professor Jeong Seok-bae of the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage. Through the general discussion, the presenters answered questions from the audience as well as from experts such as Professor Kwen Eun-ju of Kyungpook National University, Professor Gong Seok-gu of Hanbat National University, Kim Gi-seob of Seoul Baekje Museum, Professor Baek Jong-oh of the Korea National University of Transportation, Professor Hong Hyung-woo of Gangneung-Wonju National University, Professor Kim Wang-jik of Myongji University, and Research Fellow An Soung-heun of the Korea Institute of Heritage. The following provides a summary of the presentations made at the aforementioned conference with a focus on analyzing Donggyeong yongwonbu.

Geographic Location of Balhae's Eastern Capital

The first session's presentations well embodied the theme of the conference. In summing up what the area of Balhae's eastern capital was worth throughout Korean history, old documents and archaeological studies have proved that the ancient Korean kingdoms of Okjeo, Koguryo, and Balhae took turns ruling the area until it lost its dynamic characteristic with the fall of Balhae. Although the area became abandoned thereafter and then taken over by the Jurchens, geographic as well as political circumstances have recently been transforming the area around Hunchun into a distribution hub for the Far East. The area that was once part of Balhae is now where China, Russia, and North Korea intersect, proving its geographical value from its days as Balhae's eastern capital remains valid to this day.

In the second session, presentations given by scholars from China received the spotlight. Professor Zheng Yongzhen reviewed the location of Donggyeong yongwonbu and its four provinces through historical records. Professor Zheng confirmed once more that the administrative metropolis of Donggyeong yongwonbu was located at Palyeonseong (八連城), today's Hunchun in China's Jilin Province, not at Bugeo-ri (富居里) that belongs to the Cheongam district of the city Cheongjin as per North Korea's claims. Professor Zheng also suggested that the four provinces belonging to Donggyeong yongwonbu were "Onteukhyeokbuseong" in today's Hunchun, "Yeomjuseong" in today's Kraskino of Russia, "Bugeoriseong" and "Seongsangritoseong" in today's North Korea. And since Professor Zheng has been serving as a link for exchange between the two Koreas after having personally surveyed Balhae remains in North Korea through support from the Northeast Asian History Foundation, expectations have been rising toward learning more about the progress being made in excavating Balhae remains in North Korea. Research Fellow Jin Taishun of the Archaeological Institute of Heilongjiang is an archaeologist who has participated in excavating Balhae remains in China, which allowed him to offer a lively report accompanied by video clips to show the progress being made in excavating the outer wall and north gate of Sanggyeongseong.

Excavations Revealing Palyeonseong

Other notable presentations included Professor Lee Byeong-geon's presentation on "The Correlation Between the Architectural Techniques of Balhae and Silla Based on an Analysis of Reports on Balhae Fortress Excavations." By comparing reports on excavations of Balhae fortresses, Professor Lee suggested that elements such as "stone nails" (dolmot) and "ridges" (hapgakseon) demonstrate that the architectural techniques of Balhae bear similarities to those of Silla. The results of Professor Lee's empirical study showed the key role Balhae played alongside Silla during the period of the southern and northern kingdoms in Korean history, which are likely to serve as a good source in future research. Professor Yun Jae-woon focused on the structure of Palyeonseong by analyzing the production system of roof tiles used to build the fortress. Professor Yun found that roof tiles produced from the same kiln had been supplied and distributed to other Balhae capitals such as Sanggyeong and Junggyeong. Professor Jeong Seok-bae selectively studied Balhae fortresses in the northeastern region of China and Russia's Primorsky Krai to identify the characteristics of the method used to construct the fortress walls. As a result, Professor Jeong revealed that the construction method had been inherited from Koguyro and that the walls continued to serve their purpose under the rule of Chinese dynasties including Liao (遼) and Jin (金).

Balhae was founded by the Koguryo commander Dae Jo-yeong (大祚榮) at Dongmosan (東牟山) and evolved into a great kingdom as it relocated its capital between Sanggyeongseong, Seogoseong, and Palyeonseong. Balhae's ruling class mainly consisted of Koguryo migrants. Records, remains, and relics show that the kingdom had a prominent presence in Korean history to the north of Silla. However, Chinese scholars tend to consider Balhae as a provincial administration under the Tang dynasty. The conference on April 14, 2017 therefore served an opportunity to more thoroughly examine the role Balhae played in Korean history by focusing on the kingdom's eastern capital. The conference confirmed that Balhae was a Korean kingdom that simultaneously ruled both land and sea and had five capitals to manage its vast territory, one of which was at Palyeonseong, today's Hunchun in China's Jilin Province. Balhae's eastern capital centered around Palyeonseong still lies upon an international transportation route connecting land and sea, which can be traced back to the major roads Balhae paved from east to west during its time. This adds to the purpose of holding a conference that focuses on the eastern region of Balhae. The Northeast Asian History Foundation plans to continue serving as an international platform for research on Balhae history to promote studies that further reveal the ties between East Asia and the rest of the world.