Mystery Kingdom Exploration: Notes on the Archaeology of Bohai Kingdom

Author: Zhao Zhefu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-06-01
Features: In Northeast China, over a thousand years ago, there was a kingdom called Bohai, established by the ancient ethnic minority Mohe people. It existed from 698 to 926 AD, lasting over two hundred years. Due to its complete adoption of Han Chinese cultural influence, Bohai imitated the institutions and systems of the Tang Dynasty, absorbing Tang civilization, and eventually evolved into a powerful "Prosperous Kingdom in the East." However, just as its rise was abrupt, its downfall also seemed hasty. As a result, for many years, historical records about Bohai were lost until some exiled literati in Northeast China during the early Qing Dynasty were astonished to discover an "ancient great city," which was later identified by Grand Secretary Agui as the capital of Bohai. In the nearly two centuries since, the study of Bohai has become a hot topic, and the three authors of this book are among its leading scholars, with two having personally participated in Bohai archaeology and excavations in the second half of the 20th century. The book records the excavations and explorations of many Bohai cities and tombs, presenting the history of Bohai while narrating the process.