List of provinces of Balhae

The Balhae (or Bohai) kingdom controlled the northern Korean Peninsula, the area from the Amur River (Heilong Jiang) to the Strait of Tartary, and the Liaodong Peninsula. Similar to the workings of the Chinese Tang dynasty, the administration system of the Balhae kingdom was composed of:

  • 5 capitals: a Supreme capital with four secondary capitals
  • 15 provinces; and
  • 62 prefectures.

Table of provinces

Former State Province Capitals/Ancient name Prefectures level 속주(屬州)
Hanja Hangul RR, Pinyin Hanja Hangul RR, Pinyin Modern location
Sushen
숙신
肅愼
龍泉府 용천부 Yongcheon
Longquan
上京/龍州 상경/용주 Sanggyeong/Yongju
Shangjing/Longzhou
Ning'an (寧安市)
(Manchu: Ninguta 寧古塔)
  • 용주(龍州): the capital of the Bohai Kingdom. Having eight counties under its jurisdiction: 永寧、豐水、扶羅、長平、富利、佐慕、肅慎、永平. The seat was near present-day Ning'an.
  • 호주(湖州): Having one county under its jurisdiction: 長慶. Southwest of Ning'an County, northwest of Jingpo Lake
  • 발주(渤州). having one county under its jurisdiction: 貢珍. Its seat was located in the northeast of present-day Ning'an City, on the east bank of the Mudan River, or in the northwest of present-day Linkou County.
Sushen
숙신
肅愼
顯德府 현덕부 Hyundeok
Xiande
中京/顯州 중경/현주 Junggyeong/Hyeonju
Zhongjing/Xianzhou
Helong/Dunhua
(和龍市/敦化市)
Yemaek
예맥
濊貊
龍原府 용원부 Yongwon
Longyuan
東京/慶州 동경/경주 Donggyeong/Gyeongju
Dongjing/Qingzhou
Hunchun
  • 경주(慶州) = Baliancheng (Hunchun). Having three counties under its jurisdiction: 龍原、永安 (now Ying'an Town, Hunchun)、壁谷 (now in Chunhua Town, Hunchun)
  • 염주(鹽州) = Zarubino. The seat was in 龍河縣 (now Kraskino). Having four counties under its jurisdiction: 海陽、接海、格川、龍河.
  • 목주(穆州): The seat was in 會農縣 (now Ryongbung-lodongjagu, Kyongwon County, North Korea)
    하주(賀州): Having four counties under its jurisdiction: 洪賀、送誠、吉理、石山
Okjeo
옥저
沃沮
南海府 남해부 Namhae
Nanhai
南京/沃州 남경/옥주 Namgyeong/Okju
Nanjing/Wozhou
Hamheung
  • 옥주(沃州): Having four counties under its jurisdiction: 沃沮、鷲岩、龍山、濱海、昇平、靈泉. The seat was in 沃沮縣 (today Hamhung, North Korea. Another theory is that it is located in Namsansŏng (南山城), Kyongsong County and Pukchong County.
  • 정주(睛州): Having five counties under its jurisdiction: 天睛、神陽、蓮池、狼山、仙岩. The seat was in 天睛縣 (today Kujin (구진/舊津) northwest of Hamhung).
  • 초주(椒州): Having five counties under its jurisdiction:椒山、貂嶺、澌泉、尖山、岩淵. The seat was in 東山城裡, Maengsan County)
Goguryeo
고구려
高句麗
鴨綠府 압록부 Amnok
Yalü
西京/神州 서경/신주 Seogyeong/Sinju
Xijing/Shenzhou
Linjiang
  • 신주(神州): Having three counties under its jurisdiction:神鹿、神化、劍門. The seat was in 神鹿縣 (today Huludao Village (葫蘆套村), southwest of Linjiang City.)
  • 환주(桓州). The seat was in 桓都縣 (today Jian).
  • 풍주(豊州) = Today Hyesan and Changbai Korean Autonomous County. Having four counties under its jurisdiction: 安豐、渤恪、隰壤、硤石. The seat was in 安豐.
  • 정주(正州). The seat was in Fu'er River basin in Tonghua. Having one county under its jurisdiction: 東那縣.
Goguryeo
고구려
高句麗
長嶺府 장령부 Jangnyeong
Changling
瑕州 하주 Haju
Xiazhou
Jingyu
(靖宇县)
  • 하주(瑕州): The seat was in Sumigouxiang (蘇密溝鄉), Huadian (Jilin).
  • 하주(河州): The seat was in Shancheng town (山城鎮), Maihekou.
Buyeo
부여
夫餘
夫餘府 부여부 Buyeo
Fuyu
扶州 부주 Buju
Fuzhou
Kaiyuan
  • 부주(扶州): The seat was in 扶餘縣 (today Yimian City (一面城) of Siping). It has jurisdiction over four counties: 扶餘、布多、長平、永平.
  • 선주(仙州): The seat was in Chengzishan Mountain City (城子山山城) in Xifeng County, Liaoning. It has jurisdiction over three counties: 強師(帥)、新安、漁谷..
Buyeo
부여
夫餘
鄚頡府 막힐부 Makhil
Moxie
鄚州 막주 Makju
Mozhou
Acheng
(阿城)
읍루
揖婁/우루부말갈
虞婁部靺鞨
定理府 정리부 Jeongni
Dingli
定州 정주 Jeongju/Dingzhou Partizansk
  • 정주(定州): The seat was located in Sandaohezi (三道河子) on the lower reaches of Mudanjiang River in Hailin City. Another theory is that it was located in Partizansk, Russia. It has jurisdiction over five counties: 定理、平邱、岩城、慕美、安夷.
  • 반주(潘州): The seat was located in present-day Wudaohezitun (五道河子屯) in Sandaotong Town (三道通鎮), Linkou. It has jurisdiction over four counties: 潘水、安定、保山、能利.
읍루
揖婁/우루부말갈
虞婁部靺鞨
安邊府 안변부 Anbyeon
Anbian
安州 안주 Anju
Anzhou
Olga
솔빈
率賓
率賓府 솔빈부 Solbin
Shuaibin
華州 화주 Hwaju
Huazhou
Ussuriysk/Shuaibin
불열
拂涅
東平府 동평부 Dongpyeong
Dongping
伊州 이주 Iju
Yizhou
Dangbi
(密山市/当壁鎮)
이주(伊州)
몽주(蒙州)
타주(沱州)=Troitskoye
흑주(黑州)
비주(比州)
철리
鐵利
鐵利府 철리부 Cheolli
Tieli
德理鎮 덕리진 Deongnijin/Delizhen Yilan
(依蘭郷)
광주(廣州)
분주(汾州)
포주(蒲州)
해주(海州)
귀주(歸州)
월희
越喜
懷遠府 회원부 Hoewon
Huaiyuan
達州 달주 Dalju Tongjiang
(同江市)
달주(達州)
월주(越州)
회주(懷州)
기주(紀州)
부주(富州)
미주(美州)
복주(福州)
사주(邪州)
지주(芝州)
월희
越喜
安遠府 안원부 Anyuan
Anwon
寧州 영주 Yeongju
Ningzhou
Dalnerechensk 영주(寧州)
미주(郿州)=Spassk-Dalny
모주(慕州)
상주(常州)

Former Balhae provinces

Administrative map of Balhae

Manzhou Yuanliu Kao provides records which show that the Balhae had occupied the Bisa Fortress at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula. The History of Liao records that the Balhae established provinces at the Sin Fortress, Gaemo Fortress, Baegam Fortress, Yodong Fortress and Ansi Fortress area in Liaodong, as well as a substantial portion of the Liaoxi area. The Balhae sovereign's message to Yamato Kingdom in 796 states that it has recovered the entire old Goguryeo territory and its ruler's authority now shines beyond the Liao River. The Balhae came to occupy the Songhua and Wusuli River basins as well as the whole adjoining coastal zone along the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

Correspondence

  • Balhae Provinces coming from Andong protectorate :
    • Namhae province is corresponding to former Qusu (Hangul: 거소주 Hanja/Hanzi :去素州), Qudan (Hangul: 거단주 Hanja/Hanzi :去旦州), 식리주(識利州)
    • Wolhui province is corresponding to former Yuexi (Hangul: 월희주 Hanja/Hanzi :越喜州)
    • Dongpyeong is corresponding to former Funie 불열주(拂涅州)
    • Jangnyung is corresponding to former 제북주(諸北州)
    • Yalu is corresponding to former 안시주(安市州) and 창암주(倉巖州)
    • Hoewon is corresponding to former 연진주(延津州)
    • Hyeondeok is corresponding to former 여산주(黎山州)

See also