Balhae Kingdom (698–926)

1. Dae Joyeong establishes Jin after Tianmenling

   Jan 1, 6981Labels: Dae Joyeong, Jin Zhen

   Following victory at the Battle of Tianmenling against Wu Zhou/Tang forces, Dae Joyeong founded a new state commonly called Jin (Zhen)—the polity that later became Balhae.

   • Britannica
   • Tianmenling

2. Tang bestows Bohai title; name Balhae emerges

   Jan 1, 7131Labels: Tang dynasty, Bohai Balhae

   The Tang court granted Jin’s ruler the title “Prince of Commandery of Bohai (Balhae)”, and the state became widely known as Bohai/Balhae in external diplomacy.

   • Parhae
   • Britannica

3. Death of founder; King Mu succeeds

   Jan 1, 7191Labels: Dae Joyeong, King Mu

   Dae Joyeong (posthumously King Go) died, and his son Dae Mu-ye (King Mu) took the throne, marking a transition into a more expansionary and assertive phase.

   • Monarchs
   • Britannica

4. First Balhae envoy mission reaches Japan

   Jan 1, 7271Labels: Balhae, Japan

   Balhae initiated formal relations with Japan by sending its first envoy delegation (recorded in Japanese sources), beginning centuries of intermittent diplomatic and commercial contact.

   • Parhae

5. Balhae naval raid attacks Tang Dengzhou

   Jan 1, 7321Labels: Balhae navy, Dengzhou

   Under King Mu, Balhae forces carried out a notable naval assault on Dengzhou (Shandong), killing the prefect and signaling Balhae’s maritime reach amid Tang–Balhae tensions.

   • Chang Munhyu
   • Britannica

6. Tang and Balhae reestablish alliance

   Jan 1, 7341Labels: Tang dynasty, Balhae

   After clashes in the early 730s, Tang and Balhae renewed cooperative relations as broader regional pressures—especially from the Khitan—encouraged rapprochement.

   • Britannica

7. King Mun begins long reign

   Jan 1, 7371Labels: King Mun, Dae Heum-mu

   King Mun (Dae Heum-mu) ascended the throne; his reign is associated with intensified state-building and cultural exchange, including deeper engagement with Tang institutions and learning.

   • Mun of Balhae
   • Monarchs

8. Capital moves to Central Capital (Junggyeong)

   Jan 1, 7421Labels: Central Capital, Junggyeong

   Balhae shifted its main seat of government to the Central Capital (often identified with the Helong area), reflecting the kingdom’s evolving multi-capital administrative strategy.

   • Parhae

9. Upper Capital Shangjing (Sanggyeong) established

   Jan 1, 7561Labels: Shangjing, Sanggyeong

   During King Mun’s reign, Balhae established Shangjing Longquanfu (Sanggyeong) as a principal capital, modeled in part on Tang urban planning and later serving again as the final capital until 926.

   • Shangjing
   • Parhae

10. Princess Jeonghye dies; tomb epitaph tradition

    Jan 1, 7771Labels: Princess Jeonghye, tomb epitaph

    Princess Jeonghye, a daughter of King Mun, died in 777; her tomb and epitaph are among key archaeological/epigraphic sources for Balhae elite culture and court life.

    • Jeonghye

11. Upper Capital resumes as main capital

    Jan 1, 7931Labels: Shangjing, Sanggyeong

    Balhae returned its principal government seat to Shangjing/Sanggyeong, which would remain (with interruptions earlier) the kingdom’s core capital through its final century.

    • Shangjing
    • Parhae

12. King Seon expands Balhae at its height

    Jan 1, 8181Labels: King Seon, Dae family

    Under King Seon (r. 818–830), Balhae is commonly described as reaching a high point of strength and territorial extent, before later 9th–10th century decline.

    • Seon
    • Parhae

13. Khitan Liao conquers Balhae; kingdom ends

    Jan 1, 9261Labels: Khitan Liao, Balhae

    Balhae’s rule ended when the Khitan-led Liao dynasty conquered it in 926, collapsing Balhae’s institutions and reshaping power in Manchuria and northern Korea.

    • Britannica
    • Parhae

14. Liao establishes Dongdan over former Balhae lands

    Jan 1, 9261Labels: Dongdan, Liao dynasty

    After conquest, the Liao created Dongdan as a client/puppet regime to govern Balhae’s former realm before later absorption into the Liao polity.

    • Dongdan