Bohai Suryongs: Who Were They?

Abstract

Author considers question on Bohai suryongs, the places of them in Bohai are unclear. Many scholars in East Asia consider suryongs as chiefs of tribes, who lived in Bohai peripheries. However, other historians believe that suryongs were provincial officials. Usually the problem of these Bohai chiefs is discussed between these two opinions. Author thinks that the structure of suryongs consists of different groups of provincial leaders. Because many Bohai chiefs had different functions and positions in the state, clearly, in many cases the kinds of their activity were inconsistence. Therefore author of article has another opinion about suryongs in Bohai state. Moreover, in many cases Bohai chiefs can be position or rank. Suryongs played a big role in govern administrative system, we can information about activity of Bohai suryongs not only in inner policy, but in foreign relations too. It had influence in potential of Bohai in different periods of state existing. Moreover, suryongs system existed after collapse of Bohai state during a long time. The system of Bohai suryongs was well-known in other countries. Author uses materials not only in European (Russian and English), but in Asian languages (Korean and Chinese) too.