Recent Chinese Publications on Parhae WM (Bohai in Chinese)

Wang Cheng-li ï^jg, Bohai jianshi WM%$. [A Brief History of Parhae], Harbin ^m^: Heilongjiang renmin chubanshe SfËrlÀStBI&tt, 1984, 233 p.

Li Dian-fu ^Mf & Sun Yu-liang ^ï&, Bohai guo fflMM [The Parhae Kingdom], Beijing itM, Wenwu chubanshe t.^iHM±, 1987, 164 p.

Yang Bao-long tfkfôfëk, Bohai-shi rumen TijffeSlAH [Guide to the History of Parhae], Xining H^ : Qinghai renmin chubanshe #7&ÀgftMt, 1988, 195 p.

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of works on the Parhae Dynasty (698 A.D. - 926 A.D.). The lack of historical documents concerning Parhae has been the basic difficulty hampering its study. Certain contradictory elements in the few documents available have constituted a further obstacle to our understanding. These shortcomings are gradually being overcome as a result of archaeological excavations and the discovery of some inscriptions. The three books reviewed here are of very recent date and were written on the basis of this new research work. One of the important problems facing scholars is the question of the founder of Parhae. Who was he? Where did he come from? Who had the controlling power in building up the dynasty ?

Korean scholars have generally regarded Parhae as an extension of the Koguryô kingdom (37 B.C. - 668 A.D.) ever since the publication of Chewang un'gi