뉴스레터

Recently, NAHF published 『The Excavation Outcomes and Reinterpretation of the ruins of Balhae by Country』. This is a reinterpretation of the achievements of the work that has been unearthing the ruins of Balhae in each country, led by NAHF. We should also think together about the future direction of joint investigation and preservation.

Balhae's Territory and the Present State of the Ruins

Balhae was founded in 698, 30 years after the fall of Goguryeo, and succeeded Goguryeo until it was destroyed by the Goran in 926. However, Balhae did not make a country that succeeded its country in Korean history after the fall. The area of ​​Balhae is divided into three northeastern provinces of China, the Maritime Province of Russia, and the North Korea region. In modern history, the historical awareness centered on the country is the mainstream, and various interpretations are shown in Balhae history reflecting the historical awareness of China, Russia and North Korea.

Excavate and Study the Ruins of Balhae

This book analyzes and reinterprets the research of Balhae history in China, Korea, North Korea, Japan and Russia, and the excavation of the ruins of Balhae. This is the background of the publication that there is a difference in the interpretation of the history of Balhae.

Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a joint investigation and management on the Balhae ruins in order to overcome these differences and reconstruct the prototype of Balhae history. And recently, East Asian countries are publishing reports on the excavation of Balhae ruins that fit their own perspective. However, only the majors limited by each country participated in the study, so there is a limit to reflecting the universal perception of research on Balhae history. Therefore, each report needs additional academic research and supplementation on its own.

This book contains the current situation of our academia through the excavation and interpretation of the Balhae ruins of Korea. There are many limitations for Korean Balhae history majors to directly investigate the ruins of Balhae. Still, it is very encouraging that researchers who have obtained degrees on the subject of Balhae history are steadily increasing. Researchers in PhD courses studying in China and Russia are also gradually increasing. They will be major assets in that they will expand the scope of research on the history of Balhae.

Since the 1990s, South Korea and Russia have continued to jointly excavate 

the Balhae castle of Kraskino in the Maritime Province.(2018)

The Situation of Excavation by Country

The results of the survey on the ruins of Balhae by Japan were summarized and the merits and demerits that influenced the study of Balhae history were reviewed. Balhae exchanged envoys with Japan through the East Sea and spread the culture of Balhae and the information of the continent to Japan. The Japanese achievement was analyzed in two parts from 1945. It was divided into the time when the ruins of Balhae were excavated during the time of imperialism invading the continent, and the time when the ruins related to the journey of the envoys of Balhae in Japan were discovered. This topic is expected to go beyond just a part of Korea-Japan exchange history and to progress in terms of the hub of East Asian culture formed through the East Sea.

Meanwhile, Russia's Maritime Provinces, along with China and North Korea, are an important place in excavation and research. Unlike other regions, Russian ruins have already been actively investigated with Korean academia. As a result, the interpretation of Russian academia about the ruins of Balhae has the greatest consensus with us. Russian scholars emphasize the succession of Goguryeo and the exchange with Silla about the ruins of the Maritime Province. This perception is the same as that of Korean academia, and is different from that of Chinese academia. Nevertheless, there is a task to be clarified in detail when we look at the investigation in Russia. For example, it is to distinguish what is the time of Balhae among the ruins of Malgal, and to systematically demonstrate that they were one of the Balhae cultures. For this work, continuous and active investigation and data collection of the ruins of the Maritime Province are absolutely necessary.

It also included an analysis of the ruins of Balhae in North Korea. North Korea is an area corresponding to the South-North Dynasty’s history in Korean history along with Silla in the south of Balhae period. Therefore, to utilize the excavation of the Balhae ruins in North Korea is to link the lost link of the South-North Dynasty's history. The results of the excavation of the ruins of Balhae in North Korea show that the theme and description are uniform and simple. However, the description of the fact that Balhae succeeded Goguryeo is still consistent and valid. Analysis and utilization of the North's investigations is meaningful in preparing for academic exchanges between the two Koreas, which will soon be possible again.

And the case of Chinese academia was dealt with after 2000. In <Study on History of Balhae>, archaeological and literature studies and types of research were analyzed by year and theme. In <The Performance and Major Issues of the Study>, ruins were classified into city, tomb, temple, and village, and the excavation progress of Sanggyeongseong, Seogoseong, and Palyeonseong were dealt with. And the discussion on the change of city which is the core issue was reinterpreted. This is data that presents empirical alternatives to China's own-centered investigation and research.

International discussions are urgently needed to preserve and manage the ruins

This book reinterprets the results of the discovery of ruins in each country from our perspective. But we have only laid a stepping stone to reinterpret. Now, we have to start discussing how to look at the riuins of Balhae. The conclusion of this discussion is a real reinterpretation that we should re-examine.

This requires a premise. China, Russia, and North Korea should wake up from old awareness and customs that they think the ruins of Balhae can only be managed by their own country. Even if they are currently managing the ruins of Balhae, the current territorial-history should not be retroactive to understanding the history of the Balhae period. As important as the excavation of the ruins of Balhae, it is to start international discussions on how to preserve and manage them as soon as possible. So we can say that we understand Balhae. It is time to discuss the balance of research on the ruins of Balhae and the harmony of thoughts.