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The Height of Prosperity and the Fall of Balhae
Balhae reached its zenith of prosperity under the reign of King
Son in the early 9th century.
During that stage Balhae occupied a large territory, reaching
out from the Heilong River (Amur) to the north, Yonghung in
Hamgyong-namdo to the south, the Maritime Provinces to the east,
and Kaiyuan to the west. Balhae imported civilized culture and
goods from Tang, and its culture developed so peculiarly that
it was referred to as Haedong songguk (a sage country in the
east).
However, after King Son, an internal dispute arose among the
ruling class, and harmony between the governing Koguryo people
and the governed Mohe was broken. Balhae's power was weakened.
During the same time, the Qidans growing in the west of Balhae
gained more power with each day.
Balhae was destroyed by the Qidans in 926. Ever since, Manchuria,
which had been the center stage for Korea's national activities,
has been estranged from Korea's history.
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