Story 78. The Early Story of the Jurchen Jin Dynasty, the Great Jin before the Qing Dynasty

 Story 78. The Early Story of the Jurchen Jin Dynasty, the Great Jin before the Qing Dynasty

 Dr. Kwon, author of "Goguryeo-Balhae: Genghis Khan," focused his research on the relationship between Goguryeo-Balhae and Mongolia. Therefore, he focused his research on the descendants of Bo Hwal-ri, the youngest of the three sons of Geumhaeng (金幸), also known as the Golden Jar. He summarized shortly the key points only regarding his second son, Hambo (函普), the ancestor of the Jin and Qing dynasties, and his descendants. Thus, in Story 78 and the following, I will cite other historians' works to illustrate the story of the Jin Dynasty's founding.

I will then present Dr. Kwon's intricate linguistic research, proving that the three sons of Jin Haeng, Ago-rae, Hambo, and Bo-hwa-ri, who appear under different names in different historical texts, and Chu-rukme-gen,

Kubai-shi-re, and Tu-s-buda, who are recorded under different names, are the same three individuals described above.

This section introduces Professor Kang Jeong-man's account of the founding of the Jin Dynasty in his "Biographies of the Emperors of the Qing Dynasty" from Liaodong University in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China.

Episode 1. The Jurchen (Manchurian) People's Appearance in History

According to Chinese historical records, the ancestor of the Jurchen people, who had close ties with the Korean people and formed a pivotal role in East Asian history, is Su-sin(肅愼). For generations, they lived in the vast grasslands and forests north of Mount Baekdu, the Yeunhaejoo (沿海州 Maritime Province), and the Heilongjiang River(黑龍江) basin, practicing herding and hunting. They interacted with the successive dynasties of the Central Plains(中原). During the reign of King Wu(武王) of the Zhou(周) Dynasty, they sent envoys to the Zhou Dynasty, offering arrows made from the cypress tree and stone arrowheads.

 

In the <Zuo Zhuan(左傳), in the ninth year of Duke Zhao's reign(昭公)>, King Jing(景王) of the Zhou Dynasty dispatched Zhan Huan Baek(詹桓伯) to the Jin(金) Dynasty, claiming, "The regions of Sushen(肅愼), Yan(䔳), and Bak(亳) are all my territory." However, this assertion stemmed solely from a Han Chinese(漢族) perspective. Given the vast distance between the Zhou Dynasty's ruling territory and the Sushen's residential areas, it is unlikely that they actually ruled directly. However, it is possible to infer that there was exchange between the Han Chinese and the Sukshen.

During the Han(漢) Dynasty, the descendants of the Sukshen(肅愼) were called Yilou (挹婁), during the Northern Wei(北魏) Dynasty, Mulgil (勿吉), and during the Sui(隋) and Tang(唐) Dynasties, Malgal (靺鞨).

During 698 AD, Dae Jo-yeong (大祚榮?–719), a Goguryeo descendant of Malgal, united Goguryeo refugees and Malgal forces to found Balhae (渤海).

Balhae(渤海), which encompassed the northern Korean Peninsula, Manchuria, and the Yeunhaejoo (沿海州 Maritime Provinces), along with Silla(新羅) in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, led the North-South States Period (南北國時代) of Korean history. It reigned as a powerful East Asian nation for 228 years, under 15 kings, from 698 to 926. Balhae, while emulating the Tang(唐) Dynasty's cultural and institutional systems and occasionally maintaining a subservient diplomatic stance, was praised by the Tang Dynasty as the "Prosperous Nation of the East of the Sea(海東盛國)." It was a vast nation that independently used its own era names and proclaimed itself emperor. It reached its peak during the reign of King Seon(宣王) (818–830), establishing five capitals, 15 prefectures, and 62 states across the country, and expanding its territory to "5,000 li(2,000km) in all directions."

 Today, in Korea, Balhae history is considered a part of Korean history. While this historical perspective is dismissed as absurd by Chinese historians, the Jurchen people(女眞人), who formed the foundation of the Balhae people(渤海人), were another key player in Korean history, at least during the Balhae period. Therefore, from a Korean perspective, the Jurchen people are an inseparable historical asset, inextricably linked to Korean history.

For example, Yi Seong-gye (李成桂, 1335–1408), the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, relied on the help of Jurchen subordinates in the Hamgyeong Province, where Koreans and Jurchens coexisted, to establish his own power and achieve the unification of the Korean Peninsula. Yi Ji-ran (李之蘭, 1331–1402), who became Yi Seong-gye(李成桂)'s sworn brother and achieved distinguished military exploits, becoming the first contributor to the founding of the Joseon(朝鮮) Dynasty, was also actually of Jurchen(女眞) descent. His original name was Tongdu-ran. After surrendering to Yi Seong-gye(李成桂), he was granted the surname Yi (李氏) and changed his name to Yi Ji-ran(李之蘭), later becoming the progenitor of the Cheonghae Yi clan(淸海李氏).

Without the loyalty of Yi Ji-ran and other Jurchen generals, Yi Seong-gye's revolt and establishment of a new dynasty would not have been easy.

Some even claim that Yi Seong-gye's lineage contained Jurchen blood. Regardless of the truth, it is a clear historical fact that he lived among the Jurchen people in Hamgyeong Province(咸鏡道) during the late Goryeo Dynasty, familiar with hunting and nomadic life, and, as the commander-in-chief of the northeastern region, ruled not only the Goryeo people but also the Jurchen people.

However, the successive kings and literati of Joseon, who proclaimed themselves a "Little China(小中華)" and worshipped the Ming Dynasty(明朝) as a heavenly dynasty, regarded the Jurchen people as barbarians, just as the Ming Dynasty treated them. Consequently, they remained a minor figure in Korean history. Joseon, which embraced Neo-Confucianism(性理學) as its national ideology, could not possibly accept the Jurchen people, who did not understand the "Way of the Confucian sages(儒家聖賢道)." The Byeongja Horan(丙子胡亂), the invasion of Joseon by the Jin Dynasty in 1636 (the 14th year of King(仁祖) Injo's reign), which brought Joseon to the brink of collapse, also stemmed from the old-fashioned literati's prejudice and contempt for the Jurchen people. It left a historical lesson: the foolishness of a ruling class, obsessed with blind ideology and subservience, unable to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy, can lead to the misery of the people and the downfall of a nation. Yet, perhaps we remain unable to escape this chronic malady, both past and present.

 East Asia experienced great turmoil in the early 10th century. Following the fall of the Tang(唐) Dynasty in 907, the Central Plains(中原) entered a period of chaos known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms(五代十六國 五胡十六國).

In Northeast Asia, the weakening of Silla and the emergence of Gyeon Hwon's Baekje(百濟), Gung Ye's Taebong(弓裔 泰封), and Balhae(渤海) in Manchuria led to the North-South States Period, a period of turmoil between the two dynasties of Silla(新羅) and Balhae.

 In 916 AD, Yelu Abaoji (耶律阿保機 872–926), a Khitan tribal leader living a nomadic life in the upper reaches of the Liao River(遼河), took advantage of the chaos in the Central Plains(中原) to unite seven tribes, founding the Khitan (契丹 later Liao 遼) and proclaiming himself emperor. In the first year of Tianxian (天顯 926), he attacked Balhae's capital, Holhanseong (忽汗城; present-day Dongjingseong, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province), and destroyed Balhae. He renamed Balhae Dongdan (東丹國) and placed his crown prince, Yelu Pei (耶律倍), in charge. The Khitan who conquered Balhae called the Malgal the Jurchen (女眞). Among the Jurchen, those who were incorporated into the Liao dynasty's register and subject to its rule were called "Suk Yeo-jin" (熟女眞). Over time, they lost their identity and were assimilated into the Khitan.

In contrast, the Jurchen who resided in present-day Songhuajiang (松花江) in Heilongjiang Province and Buyeo County (夫餘縣) in Jilin Province(吉林省) and who were not incorporated into the Liao dynasty's register were called "Saeng Yeo-jin" (生女眞). They harbored strong resentment toward Liao rule and were extremely warlike.

They harbored strong resentment toward Liao rule and were extremely warlike. The Liao court brutally suppressed them if they refused to obey. In the fourth year of Emperor Shengzong's reign (聖宗 986), the Liao general Yelu Shizhen(耶律斜軫) attacked the Jurchen, capturing over 100,000 people and enslaving them, and seizing over 200,000 horses. The Jurchen regularly presented the Liao court with special products such as beiju (北珠 a rare pearl extracted from freshwater clams in the rivers of Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces), ginseng(人蔘), gold, pine nuts, and marten skins. Towards the end of the Liao Dynasty, the exploitation of nobles and officials became even more severe. They frequently dispatched silver-plated messengers(銀牌天使) to the Jurchen, forcing them to risk their lives to hunt purple falcons and collect beiju to present as tribute. They even indiscriminately raped the Jurchen women they encountered. This barbaric practice was called "Cheonchim (荐枕)." It meant using women as mats and pillows.

Unable to endure the oppression of the Liao Dynasty, the Jurchen people fiercely resisted, groaning under the reality that if they failed to break the chains of slavery, death would be their only option. Coincidentally, during this period, a national hero emerged from the Wanyan clan(完顔氏) of the Jurchen tribe, Agudao (阿骨打, 1068–1123), a former Liao military commander.

In the fourth year of the Tianqing era (天慶 1144), he gathered some 2,500 soldiers from various tribes at Naeryusu (來流水 present-day Nalin River(拉林河, Buyeo County, Jilin Province). He performed a ritual pledging to the gods of heaven and earth to conquer the Liao Dynasty and addressed his subordinate generals:"You must fight with unity and one heart. Slaves who have distinguished themselves will be elevated to the status of commoners, and commoners will be appointed officials. Officials who were originally officials will be promoted according to their merits. Anyone who violates the oath and military orders will be put to death, and their families will not be spared from punishment."

The Jurchen army led by Agudao(阿骨打) advanced toward Ningjiang Province (寧江珠 present-day Wujiazhan五家站, Buyeo County, Jilin Province). Aguda, at the forefront, shot and killed the Liao general Yelu Xie Shi (耶律謝十) with an arrow, causing the Liao camp to collapse rapidly. After taking Ningjiang Province, they quickly attacked Binzhou (賓州, present-day Nong'an County, Jilin Province) and Hamzhou (咸州, present-day Kaiyuan, Liaoning Province). In January of the first year of the Suigue (收國 1115), Aguda ascended the throne with the support of his younger brother, Wanyan Wujie (完顔吳乞買, 1075–1135), and Wanyan Salgae (完顔撒改), the Jurchen official equivalent of a prime minister. Aguda stated to his ministers:

 『The reason the Liao Dynasty named its country after Bincheol (鑌鐵, refined steel) in its early days was to ensure its durability. No matter how durable, it will eventually rust and become unusable. Only gold(金) is eternally unchanging and undamaged.』

  Yelu Abaoji's(耶律阿保機) choice of the Khitan word Khitan (契丹), meaning "hard steel," was an expression of his determination to build a nation as strong as steel. However, Agudao desired to establish an empire as eternal as gold, unchanging and eternal, rather than as rusting steel. In keeping with his wishes, he named the country Daegeum (大金 Great Gold). He designated the reign name Suiguo (收國) and made Huainingfu (會寧府, present-day Asheng City, Heilongjiang Province) the capital.

From this period on, the Jurchen people began to appear at the forefront of Chinese history.

Agudao immediately launched a campaign against the Liao Dynasty, capturing Huanglongfu (黃龍府, present-day Nong'an County(農安縣, Changchun City, Jilin Province), a strategically important northern location.

The Liao Dynasty was now in a position where it held a sword to its throat. The panicked Emperor Tianzuo (天祚帝1075–1128) led a counterattack with an army of hundreds of thousands of Khitan and Han Chinese(漢族). The two armies faced off at Hobodakgang (護步達岡 present-day Wuchang 五常, Heilongjiang Province). However, Aguda's forces numbered only about 20,000, making the battle unwinnable considering their numbers alone. Their forces were outnumbered by dozens of times.

 Facing such a large enemy force, the Jin soldiers lost their will to fight and fell into panic. However, Agolta realized that the Liao court was in strife, and the Liao soldiers, a mixture of Khitan(契丹) and Han Chinese(漢族), were disorganized and disorganized. Above all, he had to stabilize the morale of the troops. He spoke to his generals, weeping:

"The reason I led you and raised an army in the first place was to free our people from the oppression of the Liao and establish our own independent nation. However, the Liao Emperor refused to acknowledge me and personally led a large army to conquer us. We now have only two paths. One is to fight to the death and overcome this crisis. The other is to capture me, present me to the Emperor, slaughter my entire clan, and then surrender to the Liao. This could be a blessing in disguise."

 He appealed to them: "If you lack the confidence to fight to the death, kill me and surrender to the enemy, at least to save your lives." The generals wept and vowed to fight to the death. Ultimately, Emperor Cheonjo(天祚帝) was no match for the Jin Dynasty's Taizu(金太祖). Hundreds of thousands of troops were annihilated, and Emperor Cheonjo barely escaped.

This battle was crucial in the Jin Dynasty's downfall of the Liao Dynasty, and it served as a classic example of how a small elite force defeated a rabble-rousing army, demonstrating that victory or defeat in battle is never determined by numbers.

In the second year of the Suiguo (收國1116), Gao Yongchang(高永昌) of Balhae, using East capital (東京 present-day Liaoyang, Liaoning Province) as his base, rebelled against the Liao Dynasty.

When Emperor Cheonjo(天輔) sent troops to suppress the rebellion, Gao Yongchang(高永昌) requested help from the Jin Dynasty. Aguda, taking advantage of the Liao Dynasty's internal strife, attacked Gao Yongchang and seized all the counties in Donggyeong. He proclaimed himself the Great Sage Emperor (大聖皇帝) and changed the era name to Tianbao (天輔) from the following year. In the first year of Tianbao (1117), the Jin army attacked the Liao cities of Taizhou (泰州) and Xianzhou (顯州). The Liao generals guarding Jianzhou (乾州), Yizhou (懿州), Huzhou (豪州), and Huizhou (幑州) sensed that the tide was turning and opened their city gates one after another to surrender. While the Jin was thus cornering the Liao, unexpectedly, Emperor Huizong (徽宗∙1082–1135) of Song sent an envoy to Agudao, proposing an alliance and jointly attacking the Liao.