Literary Studies Of Bohai Kingdom And Its Descendants

During Tang Dynasty, the kingdom of Bohai appeared along Mu Danjiang Basin. Sumo Mohe people established their local regime, at the mean while, it is also conferred by the central government, Tang Dynasty. This “state in a state” phenomenon has been viewed by 15 generations, and last 229 years, creating the remarkable “Hai Dong Civilization”. It formed a new nation——“the Bohai nation” in the domain of Bohai. The culture of Bohai is a product of combining the national culture and the Central Plains culture which has a strong ductility and inclusiveness. Their culture was influenced by Sushen, Wuji nation, and enlightened the descendants of Liao and Jin Dynasties, which is the transplantation of Tang Dynasty and constantly influenced by the cultural exchange between Tang Dynasty and Japan.The capital of Bohai is located in Mu Danjiang Basin. As the Bohai regime collapsed, the documentation which has been reserved in the capital city and Literature institution also vanished. Therefore, the characteristic of Bohai kingdom can only be recognized through studying some Tang Dynasty literary works and a few ancient Japanese poetry works. Bohai’s poetry mostly were recorded in “Wenhuaxiuli set” and “Jing Guo set”. Some envoys poet like Yang Taishi, Wang Xiaolian, Renzhen, Zhensu, Pei Ting and Pei Qiu presented the achievements of their motherland when they visited Japan. Due to the restriction of the subject, object and environmental constraints while creating poems, their poems focused on praising their Monarch, writing odes to the nature and expressing homesickness. Poetry has such features as subtle expressions, appropriate usage of allusions and harmonious lyric.While visiting Japan, envoys from Bohai talked to Japan’s Minister with poetry. Their topics included the homesickness, farewell, friendship, chanting,mourning the dead etc. Ambassador Pei Ting and a Japanese poet co-worked a poem, “embassy conversation Poems”, which became a much-told story. Bai Juyi’s poetry has influenced Japanese so much. Most of the Japanese poets learned his language, image depiction and the way of expressing emotion.The articles of Bohai State is rhythmical prose style, including epitaph and credentials. Over the regime of Da Qinmao, “Zhen Hui Princess” and “Zhen Xiao Princess” were influenced by the Confucianism, emphasizing the woman’s virtues. The two articles cited a number of Confucian ancient books and literature records, showing a great cultural enrichment. Epitaph, as the rhythmical prose, has a neat form and rhetoric diction. As for the credentials which included Qi, Die, Jian, Zhuang and Biao have political connotations and aesthetic value. The early credentials’ style featured in preciseness and plainness, and the latter has a tendency of formalism.After the demise of the Bohai Kingdom, it was renamed the “East Dan Kingdom”, which meant “the eastern Qi Dan Kingdom”. In order to prevent the descendants’ revolt, the descendants of the Bohai moved to Liao Yang. The descendants of the Bohai State are martial, they continued to resist foreign domination by force. The concubine of Liao Da Sese had a finger in political poetry. Ding An king’s credentials reflects a strong sense of political responsibility.Bohai and Jurchen are Sushen’s descendants, they became a political alliance to resist Liao regime. After the establishment of Jin Kingdom, Bohai descendants have supreme political status and produced many famous families like Clan Zhang from Liao Yang, Clan Wang from Xiong Yue and Clan Gao from Liao Yang.The Clan Zhang from Liao Yang is superior to the others. Zhang Hao assisted five emperors and his sons received good education. Zhang Ruwei, Zhang Rulin, Zhang Runeng, Zhang Rufang and have literary attainments.The feelings and accomplishment in their works are the continuation of cultural traditions.The Clan Wang from Xiong Yue has a long history with the highest literary achievement. This is a clan of famous men in literature. Wang Zungu is deeply influenced by Confucianism and gained a great achievement in prose. His son Wang Tingjun has great achievement, too. As a well-known artist, his poems, calligraphy, paintings are incredibly outstanding. Wang Tingjun’s poetry can be divided into two phases. The early works is about the natural landscape and human arts, and its style is vivid and natural. The later Poetry is more secular and profound with new imagery though having a problem of jerky. His poetry has a lofty ring and was influenced by Tao Yuanming, Bai Juyi, Su Shi and Huang Tingjian. Wang Tingjun’s words are in pursuit of freedom, and its performance is temperament. There has been bleak among calmness reflecting the literati of emotion. His prose is brief and plain reflecting the attitude of sober and restrain. His work’s realm is affected by the life and his character. His achievements occupied the most prominent position in Bohai descendants. His brother Wang Ting Jun and his son Wang Wanqing also have works to hand down.Gao Xian learned from his uncle Wang Tingjun during his childhood. His poetry reflects the reputation-careless character. The other descendants of the Bohai Kingdom, like Li Xianke, Zhang Cheng and Wang Hui’s works have unique personality, too. The character of Bohai descendants’ literary works is unique. They enjoyed the glory brought by culture and the art, meanwhile, sipping the grief of losing their country and land.Although the research resources about Bohai Kingdom and their descendants’ literary works are limited, and the studies are rare, but considering the integrity and necessity about Bohai literary studies, it is necessary to organize, investigate and illustrate.