The Study On External Relations In Bohai Kingdom

Bohai is a frontier minority regime, and established at the end of the seventh century in the northeast of China. During its more than two hundred years’ presence, diplomacy is always the key word of its history development. Violent turbulence and rapidly changing political environment of East Asia in Tang Dynasty pose a challenge to various tribes, political power and even countries. At the same time those also create a golden opportunity for them. In such environment, Bohai keens to perceive changes of the times, quickly grasps the opportunity of history development, prudently deals with great countries, actively introduces and absorbs advanced culture, and eventually becomes Hai Dong Great Kingdom. This is naturally inseparable from its developing and forming a unique style of external relations.On East Asian’s political stage in Tang Dynasty, the development and change of Fanshu relations between Bohai and Tang Dynasty are the center of the development of Bohai’s external relations. Though Bohai considers its own interests as the center in external relations, from the view of practical condition which is related to Bohai’s survival and development, the development of Bohai’s external relations during various periods in the history are inseparable from practical implications of Fanshu system. Fanshu system binds all objects which are directly or indirectly related to it together. For Bohai, whether it could maintain and guarantee Fanshu relations with Tang Dynasty is always the core interest of the development of its external relation. Furthermore, Bohai’s external relations system has an impact to Fanshu relations, and Bohai takes it as an important standard to develop external relations. Bohai’s external relations is the research object for this article, combined with relations’ research between Bohai and Tang Dynasty, Japan, Xinluo and other surrounding nationalities.The introduction part mainly focuses on the purpose and the research’s significance of the article, explains and defines the related concept and scope of the article, reorganizes academic history related to the research, and introduces the basic ideas and innovations.The first chapter mainly discusses the political environment which is associated with the establishment of Dazuorong. Such environment is happened after the demise of Gaogouli, especially after the chaos of Yingzhou. The northeast and even the East Asia is not calm after the demise of Gaogouli. There exist intricate relationships among these areas. The appearance of the unified Xinluo, the impact of Yingzhou, the increasing penetration of Tujue’ forces, even the more and more serious strategic situation in northwest frontier, all these factors have a higher request to Tang Dynasty’s governing policy in the northeast of China and East Asia.The second chapter mainly discusses how Bohai carries out diplomacy mediation among Tang Dynasty, Tujue and Xinluo at the founding of the early Bohai. All these efforts are based on the need of consolidation. During this period, the center of Bohai’s external relations is the consolidation of the new regime. To achieve this purpose, Bohai has chosen to dependent upon Tujue, Xinluo and surrounding political forces, but all these choices cannot take the place of Fanshu system which attracts Bohai deeply. From the early founding of regime, Bohai hasn’t given up being canonized by Tang Dynasty, or joining in Fanshu system.The third chapter mainly discusses the development and change between Bohai and Tang Dynasty, Japan, Xinluo during the period of Dawuyi. The changes are based on the need of Bohai’s external expansion. During this period, the external expansion of Dawuyi has a huge role in Fanshu relationship between Tang Dynasty and Bohai. And the new changes also emerge between Bohai and Japan, Xinluo.The fourth chapter mainly discusses adjustments and changes of the relationship between Bohai and Tang Dynasty, Japan and Xinluo during the period of Anshi rebellion. Facing the impact of Anshi, Bohai, on the one hand, maintains its neutrality, and tries to avoid Anshi’s chaos impacting on it. On the other hand, Bohai makes use of East Asian’s chaos caused by Anshi rebellion actively, and takes the opportunity to expand his own political power.The fifth chapter mainly discusses the external relations in the later stage of Bohai. The late period of Bohai mainly includes the Bohai history which is from Dasonglin to Dayinzhuan. It experiences the period of the formation, the heyday and the decline of so called Hai Dong Prosperous Kingdom, and the period of Hai Dong Prosperous Kingdom’s formation and heyday is also the important stage of stable development of Bohai’s external relations. In addition, the influence made by Qidan’s rise and its attack to Bohai, all these factors affect the external relations of Bohai during the Doomsday.The sixth chapter attempts to summarize on the nature, the view of Bohai’s diplomatic within the framework of Fanshu system.At the same time, it summarizes on policy evolution, diplomatic strategy and Bohai external relations development in different periods of Bohai from the view of Bohai’s diplomatic policy.