Dae Jung-sang

Dae Jung-sang
Hangul	대중상 also 걸걸중상
Hanja	大仲象 also 乞乞仲象
Revised Romanization	Dae Jung-sang also Geolgeol Jungsang
McCune–Reischauer	Tae Chung-sang also Kŏlkŏl Chungsang

Qiqi Zhongxiang
Traditional Chinese	乞乞仲象
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qǐqǐ Zhòngxiàng

Monarchs of Korea Balhae
Go 698-719 Mu 719–737 Mun 737–793 Dae Won-ui 793 Seong 793-794 Gang 794–809 Jeong 809-812 Hui 812–817 Gan 817–818 Seon 818–830 Dae Ijin 830–857 Dae Geonhwang 857–871 Dae Hyeonseok 871–894 Dae Wihae 894–906 Dae Inseon 906–926

Dae Jung-sang (?-698?), also known as Geolgeol Jungsang or Qiqi Zhongxiang, was the contribute of Balhae, and the father of Dae Joyeong, who was the founder of Balhae. Though much of the credit for the founding of Balhae went to his son, many historians still give credit to Dae Jung-sang as the main supporter and leader in the founding of Balhae.

Background

The Old Book of Tang state that he was of the ethnic Goguryeo race, and was from a noble family that existed from the founding of Goguryeo.

Dae Jung-sang's service to Goguryeo army is thought to have started when the Tang invaded Goguryeo. Following the death of Yeon Gaesomun, the Tang invaded Goguryeo for a third time, and successfully conquered Pyeongyang in 668. Despite the fall of Pyeongyang, most of the territory of Goguryeo was not completely pacified and under Tang influence. As a result, revival movements resisted viciously against the Tang.

Goguryeo Revival movement

Most of the Goguryeo Aristocracy, including him, were taken to Yingzhou (Hanzi :營州), the homeland of the Khitan. Yingzhou became part of the Tang's General Protectorate to Pacify the East, and the Khitan were enraged.

In 696, the Khitan led a revolt that killed the cruel governor of the protectorate and gave Yingzhou back to the Khitan. Dae Jung-sang allied with the Baishan Mohe leader Geolsa Biu (Hangul: 걸사비우, Hanja: 乞四比羽 pinyin: Qǐsì bǐyǔ), and the two powers opposed the Tang influence in 698. The two leaders resisted the Tang's attack, but were forced to retreat. Both Geolsa Biu, and Dae Jung-sang died in battle, but Dae Jo-yeong led the remaining Goguryeo and Malgal soldiers and defeated the Tang army at the Battle of Cheonmun-ryeong and established the Balhae.

According to New Book of Tang, Wu Zetian created Dae as Duke of Jin (Zhen), Geolsa Biu as Duke of Heo (Xu), and pardon their crimes. Geolsa Biu refused the title and Wu sent general Li Kaigu to suppress the rebellions. Geolsa died in Battle of Tianmenling, Dae Jo-yeong led the others in victorious against Li. Dae Jung-sang died from sickness after the battle.^[1]

Family

The most notable and famous of his children was his eldest, Dae Jo-yeong. Dae Jung-sang had another son, Dae Ya-bal (대야발), and probably also had other children besides Dae Jo-yeong because the Balhae Royal line consisted of two lineages, one from Dae Jo-yeong and the other from Dae Ya-bal.

Legacy

Dae Jung-sang's forgotten establishing of a Successor-state of Goguryeo laid the foundations for the founding of an even more powerful kingdom, which was Balhae. Despite all of his hard work, most people remember his son Dae Joyeong as the founder of Balhae. Nevertheless, his descendants continued on the Balhae Royal line to the fifteenth generation.

Though Balhae fell, it left a further legacy. The last princes of Balhae quickly gathered the Balhae Aristocracy and retreated to Goryeo for sanctuary. Taejo of Goryeo gladly took them in and the Dae family continued on and still survives to this day as the Hyeop-gye Tae clan (협계 태씨).

See also

• History of Korea
• Rulers of Korea
• Goguryeo
• Dae Joyeong
• Balhae

References

• (Korean)
• Relationship between Mohe, Jurchens and Hungarian names (Qiqi Zhongxiang and Qisi Piyu)

1. "144". New Book of Tang. 235.