Dongdan Kingdom

The Dongdan Kingdom (926–936) (東丹, Khitan language: Dan Gur,[1] Simplified Chinese: 东丹) was a puppet kingdom established by the Liao dynasty to rule the realm of Balhae in Eastern Manchuria (now partially in North Eastern China).[2]

Dongdan Kingdom

東丹
CapitalHuhan
Common languagesKhitan language, Goguryeo language
Religion
Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Shamanism
GovernmentMonarchy
History 
• Established
926
• Annexed by the Liao dynasty
936
Preceded by		Succeeded by
Balhae
Liao dynasty
Today part ofChina
North Korea
Russia
The area controlled by the Liao Dynasty. Dongdan is shaded in blue.

History

After conquering the Dan Gur (Balhae in Khitan language) in 926, the Khitan crown prince Yelü Bei ascended to the throne of it at the Huhan fortress, the capital of Balhae, today's Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province. It used Dongdan as its Chinese name, which means the east Dan Gur, in respect to the Liao dynasty in the west.[3]

However, political tension soon evolved between Yelü Bei and his younger brother Yelü Deguang, who took the imperial throne of Khitan after their father Yelü Abaoji died, en route to his homeland from a relatively successful campaign against the Later Tang. The new emperor ordered his elder brother to move his capital from Huhan in Eastern Manchuria to Liaoyang in Western Manchuria.

Bei obeyed the imperial order but soon fled to North China to avoid possible assassination in 930. Bei's son was elevated to the new king of Dongdan, but the kingdom was annexed by the Liao dynasty in 936.[4] A minority of historians suggest Dongdan was annexed in 982. On the other hand some beliefe that Dongdan was never a "independent kingdom", but was instantly annexed in 926 by the Khitan.[5]

To continue Balhae's friendly relations with Japan, Dongdan sent a diplomatic mission over the Sea of Japan in 929. But the Japanese court in Kyoto rejected the mission from Dongdan, due to loyalty for the old Balhae regime.[6]


The King of Dongdan Goes Forth (東丹王出行圖), scroll, light colors on silk. 146.8 x 77.3 cm. National Palace Museum, Taipei

See also

Notes
  1. 契丹文dan gur本義考 あわせて「東丹国」の国号を論ず
  2. 이이화의 〈한국사 이야기 4-남국 신라와 북국 발해〉
  3. 徐俊. 中国古代王朝和政权名号探源. 湖北武昌: 华中师范大学出版社. 2000年11月: 262. ISBN 7-5622-2277-0.
  4. 徐俊. 中国古代王朝和政权名号探源. 湖北武昌: 华中师范大学出版社. 2000年11月: 262. ISBN 7-5622-2277-0.
  5. SAWAMOTO, Mitsuhiro (2008). "The Kitai Dynasty's governance of Bohai and the structure of Dongdanguo as seen from Yelu-Yuzu's Epitaph". Shigaku Zasshi. 117 (6): 1097–1122. doi:10.24471/shigaku.117.6_1097. ISSN 0018-2478.
  6. The Kitai Dynasty’s governance of Bohai and the structure of Dongdanguo as seen from Yelu-Yuzu’s Epitaph


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.