Balhae-Tang Dynasty Relations in the 8th Century through the Change in the Name of Appointment title and Apbeonsa

Author : PARK YU JEONG

Page : 5-48

Abstract

 This paper examines the change in the relationship between Balhae and the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century through the change in the name of appointment title and Apbeonsa. Balhae established diplomatic relations with the Tang in 713, when the King Go was first appointed as Balhae-Gunwang. The appointment title of Balhae received from Tang served as the basis for the beginning of diplomatic relations in the early days of Balhae. This is evidenced by Balhae's record of dispatching diplomatic envoys to Japan in the 720s. It seems that the relationship between the Tang dynasty and Balhae was reflected in the appointment title. This can be guessed from the continuous change in Balhae King Mu’s appointment title. The fact that King Mun of Balhae was promoted to Balhae-Gukwang also seems to be the result of maintaining a favorable attitude toward the Tang Dynasty during the An-Shi rebellion. After the An-Shi rebellion, Pyeongno-Chicheong-Jeoldosa also served as the Ap-Silla-Balhae-Yangbeonsa. However, as revealed in the memorial inscription of Deungju-Jasa in the first half of the 8th century, Pyeongno-Chicheong-Jeoldosa, the chief officer of the Chichung region, which includes Deungju, the route for envoys from Silla and Balhae to the Tang Dynasty, also served as the Ap-Silla-Balhae-Yangbeonsa. On the other hand, unlike the Ap-Hae-Georan-Yangbeonsa, which was in charge of the Khitan and the Xi, the expression “Gyeongnyak”, which means domination of the border area, is not revealed at the same time, indicating that the Tang Dynasty no longer recognized Balhae as the object of “Gyeongnyak”. In other words, Balhae was changed to a target of diplomacy and trade, not a target of defense or war, for the Tang Dynasty after the An-Shi rebellion.

<Key Word>​

Appointment title, Apbeonsa, Pyeongno-Chicheong-Jeoldosa, An-Shi Rebellion, Diplomatic Relations