Foundation of Balhae After Goguryeo's Fall

The establishment of the kingdom of Balhae in 698 CE marked the emergence of a new state in Northeast Asia following the fall of Goguryeo in 668 CE. Founded by Dae Jo-yeong, a former Goguryeo general, Balhae became a successor state that played a central role in the North–South States Period, during which Balhae controlled northern regions while Unified Silla governed the southern Korean Peninsula. After the collapse of Goguryeo, Dae Jo-yeong gathered displaced Goguryeo people along with Malgal (Mohe) groups and moved to the region around Mount Dongmo, located in present-day Jilin Province, China. In 698, he established a new kingdom initially named Jin, which was later renamed Balhae. This foundation created a political entity that drew from both Goguryeo traditions and local influences in the region. Balhae’s ruling class maintained strong cultural and historical ties to Goguryeo. The kingdom identified itself as the continuation of Goguryeo’s legacy, a claim reflected in its diplomatic communications. Records indicate that Balhae rulers referred to themselves as “Kings of Goguryeo” in correspondence with Japan, reinforcing their position as successors to the earlier state. At its height, Balhae expanded across a large area that included parts of Manchuria, the northern Korean Peninsula, and areas of the Russian Far East. Its administrative systems and cultural development were recognized by the Tang Dynasty of China, which referred to Balhae as “Haedong Seongguk,” meaning the flourishing country of the east. This recognition reflects Balhae’s regional presence during its existence from 698 to 926. The founding of Balhae established a dual-state structure on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding regions, shaping the geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia for over two centuries.