Sŏn of Balhae

King Sŏn (Korean: 선왕; Hanja: 宣王; r. 818–830), also called Tae Insu (대인수; 大仁秀), was the 10th king of the kingdom of Balhae.^[1][2] He restored national strength, and is remembered today as the last of the great Balhae rulers before its fall.

Sŏn
Chinese name
Chinese	宣王
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xuānwáng Wade–Giles Hsüanwang
Birth name in Chinese
Chinese	大仁秀
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Dà Rénxiù Wade–Giles Ta Jên-hsiu
Korean name
Hangul	선왕
Hanja	宣王
Transcriptions Revised Romanization Seon wang McCune–Reischauer Sŏn wang
Birth name in Korean
Hangul	대인수
Hanja	大仁秀
Transcriptions Revised Romanization Dae Insu McCune–Reischauer Tae Insu

Background

Tae Insu was a 4th-generation descendant of Tae Choyŏng's younger brother, Tae Yabal [ko]. In spite being from the collateral branch, he succeeded to the throne during the years of 817 and 818. He reestablished royal authority, and strengthened the military tremendously.

Reign

The territory of Balhae in 830, during the reign of king Seon of Balhae.

King Seon concentrated heavily on the empire's territorial expansion, and led campaigns that resulted in the absorption of many northern Malgal tribes including Heishui Mohe. Southwest Little Goguryeo in Liaodong was absorbed into Balhae, and also he ordered southward expansion towards Silla.

During his 12-year reign, he dispatched embassies five times to Japan, which was aimed at establishing diplomatic relations as well as increasing trade between the two kingdoms. Balhae emissaries were treated favorably even though Japan wanted Balhae to restrict the size of the embassies due to the costs associated with hosting them. The trade routes established across the Sea of Japan led to Balhae becoming one of Japan's most important trading partners.

He died in 830 and his grandson Tae Ijin succeeded to the throne.

See also

• List of Korean monarchs
• History of Korea
• List of Administrative divisions of Balhae