KJC Korea
Journal Central

The many papers on the relations of Balhae-Japan in the later 8th century have mainly dealt with the conversion of the political diplomacy to the economic one from the Japanese point. In other words, it has been regarded as an economic reason that Balhae dispatched envoys on a large scale to Japan to talk over the trade issue when Japanese withdrew its devil design for invading Shilla. Balhae, however, dispatched the a large number of the envoys consisting of about 180 to 300 people to Japan five times within the short period of the later reign of king Moon from 771 to 779, It is notice-able that Balhae consistently took high-handed diplomatic policy even to cause the diplomatic friction with the sovereign's message born by a Balhae envoy. It means the change of Balhae's diplomatic policy toward Japan that Balhae dispatched a large diplomatic mission. Shortly, Balhae rapidly grew in the later 8th century and there was a change in both domestic and abroad situation. It is thought that it made Balhae lead the large scale trade with Japan as well as adopt a very uncompromising position on the diplomatic issues.

It was very fixed because the base was formed of self sufficient economy in the medieval society. The local administrative system had been managed with the regional origin of family genealogy, Bongwan(本貫), especially in Goryeo Dynasty. Bongwan was important to all the officials, soldiers, merchants, farmers and etc. Nevertheless there were many varieties of moving out. Among the rest the migration of the officials was remarkable in records. The local group in each district usually entered government service. They had to succeed in Gwageo(科擧), the state examination to recruit ranking officials, and to move to Gaegyeong(開京). Though they sometimes lost their official posts, they could not move out. Contrary to the officials, the common people had to leave Bongwan to get living. So they could keep away from various kinds of tax burden, famine and infectious disease. There were differences in the settlers in Gaegyeong by their origins, who were government officials, local group and former military men. Some were wealthy and the others were barely enough. But wondering people left for new land to cultivate. The government framed the polices to take the trouble for the settlers.