Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia
The Northeast Project which is short for the Northeast Borderland History and the Chain of Events Research Project , was a 20-million-yuan (2.4 million US dollars) project launched by the Chinese government in 2002 and finished in 2006, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Science. This project applies the ideology of Zhonghua Minzu
to ancient ethnic groups, states and history of the region of Manchuria
and northern Korea
. Under the Zhonghua Minzu ideology, it is assumed that there was a greater Chinese state in the ancient past. Accordingly, any pre-modern people or states that occupied any part of what is now the People's Republic of China
are defined as having been part of that greater Chinese state. Similar projects have been conducted on Tibet
and Xinjiang
, which have been named Southwest Project and Northwest Project, respectively.
Due to its claims on Gojoseon
, Goguryeo
and Balhae
, the project sparked disputes with Korea. In 2004, this dispute threatened to lead to diplomatic disputes between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea, although all governments involved seem to exhibit no desire to see the issue damage relations. However, there has been a shift from anti-American and pro-China to a pro-American and anti-China in Korea as a strategic move.
was amended to redefine the People's Republic of China
as a "unitary multinational state built up jointly by the people of all its nationalities", some Chinese historians began to re-identify Goguryeo, especially the first half of Goguryeo's history before it moved its capital to the Korean peninsula, as part of the regional history of China rather than of Korea. This historical revisionism was intensified in the 1990s when a head historian of a North Korean delegation accused Chinese historians of conceiving of ancient China in terms of the territorial bounds of the modern Chinese state, which, he claimed, is a view unsupported by historical evidence. More recently in 2002, this effort has been taken up by the PRC government in the form of the Northeast Project.
For thousands of years, official history books of dynasties that ruled China's current territory (Twenty-Four Histories
) have taken it for granted that Goguryeo is Korea's history. For example, Book of Sui
, Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang
, the official history books of Sui Dynasty
and Tang Dynasty
, consistently called Goguryeo, together with Shilla and Baekje
, "Three Koreas (三韓)". In addition, the following official history books made sure Goryeo
(a.k.a., Korea) succeeded Goguryeo's history and legacy:
The Chinese government and communist party's attempted revision of Goguryeo history, in an attempt to overrule the foregoing thousands of years' orthodox, is not universally accepted in the PRC. In 2006, a senior scholar from Peking University
affirmed Goguryeo as a part of Korean history and denied Chinese connections.
He has expressed disagreement with the CASS
institute, the PRC government institution running the Northeast Project, and indirectly criticized the project on behalf of the Peking University Department of History.
Coupled with various provocations, such as sending threats to Korean parliamentary members, the Goguryeo controversy generated an anti-Chinese sentiment that reversed the anti-US and pro-China atmosphere in Korea along with a possible shift in Korea's security strategy. On a 2006 poll commissioned by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, South Koreans chose China as the greatest security threat in 10 years.
Zhonghua minzu
Zhonghua minzu , usually translated as Chinese ethnic groups or Chinese nationality, refers to the modern notion of a Chinese nationality transcending ethnic divisions, with a central identity for China as a whole...
to ancient ethnic groups, states and history of the region of Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
and northern Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Under the Zhonghua Minzu ideology, it is assumed that there was a greater Chinese state in the ancient past. Accordingly, any pre-modern people or states that occupied any part of what is now the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
are defined as having been part of that greater Chinese state. Similar projects have been conducted on Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
and Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, which have been named Southwest Project and Northwest Project, respectively.
Due to its claims on Gojoseon
Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
, Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
and Balhae
Balhae
Balhae was a Manchurian kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-yeong, a Mohe general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin , later called Balhae.Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria and...
, the project sparked disputes with Korea. In 2004, this dispute threatened to lead to diplomatic disputes between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea, although all governments involved seem to exhibit no desire to see the issue damage relations. However, there has been a shift from anti-American and pro-China to a pro-American and anti-China in Korea as a strategic move.
Background
Starting from the 1980s when the PRC constitutionConstitution of the People's Republic of China
The Constitution of the People's Republic of China is the highest law within the People's Republic of China. The current version was adopted by the 5th National People's Congress on December 4, 1982 with further revisions in 1988, 1993, 1999, and 2004. Three previous state constitutions—those of...
was amended to redefine the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
as a "unitary multinational state built up jointly by the people of all its nationalities", some Chinese historians began to re-identify Goguryeo, especially the first half of Goguryeo's history before it moved its capital to the Korean peninsula, as part of the regional history of China rather than of Korea. This historical revisionism was intensified in the 1990s when a head historian of a North Korean delegation accused Chinese historians of conceiving of ancient China in terms of the territorial bounds of the modern Chinese state, which, he claimed, is a view unsupported by historical evidence. More recently in 2002, this effort has been taken up by the PRC government in the form of the Northeast Project.
List of Research Topics
- General History of Heilongjiang (黑龙江通史)
- Cultural Research Topics of 20th Century Chinese Northeast Borderland (二十世纪中国东北边疆文化研究课题)
- The Gwanggaeto SteleGwanggaeto SteleThe stele of King Gwanggaeto of Goguryeo was erected in 414 by King Jangsu as a memorial to his deceased father. It is one of the major primary sources extant for the history of Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and supplies invaluable historical detail on his reign as well as insights...
of 1580 (好太王碑1580年) - History of Economic Relationship Between Chinese Northeast and Russia (USSR) from mid-17th Century to 1949 (中国东北与俄国（苏联）经济关系史（17世纪中叶—1949年）)
- History of BalhaeBalhaeBalhae was a Manchurian kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-yeong, a Mohe general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin , later called Balhae.Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria and...
(渤海国史) - JiziJiziJizi was a semi-legendary Chinese sage who is said to have ruled Gojoseon in the 11th century BCE. Early Chinese documents like the Book of Documents and the Bamboo Annals described him as a virtuous relative of the last king of the Shang dynasty who was punished for remonstrating the king...
and Gija JoseonGija JoseonGija Joseon describes the period after the alleged arrival of Gija in the northwest of Korean peninsula. It was considered by most of the Chinese and the Korean scholars as a part of the Gojoseon period of Korean history...
Research (箕子与箕子朝鲜研究) - Research on Russian Oriental Migration and Development (俄国东部移民开发问题研究（1861—1917）)
- Historical Theories of Balhae (渤海史论)
- History of the Development of Ancient Peoples in Northeastern China (中国东北古民族发展史)
- Research and Theory on Related Family Names of China and Korea (中韩相关姓氏族源考论)
- Research on Borderland Policies of Northeastern Region during Republican Era (民国时期东北地方政府治边研究)
- Issues of Recent International Migration in Chinese Northeastern Region (近代中国东北地区的国际移民问题)
- Research on Northeastern Policies of Various Chinese Dynasties in History (历朝东北治边研究)
- Issues Regarding International Law and China-North Korea Border Disputes (国际法与中朝边界争议问题)
- Detailed Analysis and Research of Samguk Sagi (《三国史记》详注及研究)
- Research Topics Regarding Han Chinese Demographic History in the Northeast (东北汉族人口史研究课题)
- Research on Governing of Balhae Immigrants (渤海移民的治理与归属研究)
- Research on the Restriction and Development of Yalu-river-region during the Qing Dynasty (清代鸭绿江流域的封禁与开发研究)
Claims on Goguryeo
Goguryeo has been conventionally viewed as one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Chinese characterization of Goguryeo as a regional power of China in modern times has spawned heated disputes with both North Korea and South Korea who regard Goguryeo as a uniquely Korean state.Criticisms
The PRC's claim on Goguryeo history, in an attempt to recharacterize it as a Chinese tributary state rather than a Korean kingdom, has received international criticism. Such criticisms came from numerous scholars from other countries such as the United States, Russia, Mongolia, and Australia, including prominent Goguryeo experts such as Mark Byington, a postdoctorate at the Korea Institute, an independent Korean studies research institute at Harvard University, and R. Sh. Djarylgashinova of Russian Academy of Science Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography.For thousands of years, official history books of dynasties that ruled China's current territory (Twenty-Four Histories
Twenty-Four Histories
The Twenty-Four Histories is a collection of Chinese historical books covering a period from 3000 BC to the Ming Dynasty in the 17th century. The whole set contains 3213 volumes and about 40 million words...
) have taken it for granted that Goguryeo is Korea's history. For example, Book of Sui
Book of Sui
The Book of Sui was the official history of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty, and it ranks among the official Twenty-Four Histories of imperial China. It was compiled by a team of historians led by the Tang Dynasty official Wei Zheng and was completed in 636.-External links:* of the Book of Sui,...
, Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
, the official history books of Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
and Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, consistently called Goguryeo, together with Shilla and Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
, "Three Koreas (三韓)". In addition, the following official history books made sure Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
(a.k.a., Korea) succeeded Goguryeo's history and legacy:
- GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
Chapter in History of SongHistory of SongThe History of Song or Song Shi is one of the official Chinese historical works known as the Twenty-Four Histories of China that records the history of the Song Dynasty...
(宋史; the official history book of Chinese Song DynastySong DynastyThe Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
): "GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
's original name is Goguryeo (高麗, 本曰高句驪) ... Although Emperor Yang of SuiEmperor Yang of SuiEmperor Yang of Sui , personal name Yang Guang , alternative name Ying , nickname Amo , known as Emperor Ming during the brief reign of his grandson Yang Tong), was the second son of Emperor Wen of Sui, and the second emperor of China's Sui Dynasty.Emperor Yang's original name was Yang Ying, but...
sent a military expedition twice and Emperor Taizong of TangEmperor Taizong of TangEmperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
took personal command of the army to invade Goguryeo, they were all defeated (by Goguryeo) (隋煬帝再擧兵, 唐太宗親駕伐之, 皆不克) ..."
- GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
Chapter in History of Jin (金史; the official history book of Jurchen's Jin DynastyJin DynastyJin Dynasty may refer to:* Jin Dynasty , Chinese dynasty, subdivided into the Western and Eastern Jin periods* Later Jin Dynasty , one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China.* Jin Dynasty , a Jurchen kingdom in northern China* Later Jīn Dynasty, or...
that conquered the northern China): "In TangTang-Chinese name:* Tang Dynasty , Chinese dynasty* Later Tang Dynasty , Turkic dynasty in ancient China* King Tang of Shang , the Shang dynasty ruler, who lived around 1660 BCE...
's early era, Mohe (Note: the former name of Jurchen) was composed of Sumo Mohe and Heishui MoheHeishui MoheThe Heishui Mohe or Heuksu Malgal also called Black-River Mohe , were the most feared among the Mohe tribes...
, both of which became a vassal of Goryeo (Note: indicating Goguryeo) (唐初, 靺鞨有粟末·黑水兩部, 皆臣屬于高麗) ... Although Jurchen was a vassal of Goryeo (Note: indicating Goguryeo) long time ago, it has taken a long time since the two ceased contact with each other (女直雖舊屬高麗, 不復相通者久矣) ..."
- GoryeoGoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
Chapter in History of YuanHistory of YuanThe History of Yuan is one of the official Chinese historical works known as the Twenty-Four Histories of China. The historical work consists of 210 chapters chronicling the history of the Genghisid Yuan Dynasty from the time of Genghis Khan to the flight of the last Yuan Emperor Huizong from...
(元史; the official history book of Mongol's Yuan DynastyYuan DynastyThe Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
that conquered China): "Goryeo ... has been dwelled by BuyeoBuyeoBuyeo can mean:*Buyeo kingdom, a kingdom located in today's North Korea and southern Manchuria from around the 2nd century BC to 494 AD*Buyeo County, a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, and one-time capital of the ancient kingdom of Baekje...
tribe since the early era, reaching SillaSillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
to the east and BaekjeBaekjeBaekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
to the south, altogether adjacent to large seas (又扶餘別種嘗居之. 其地東至新羅, 南至百濟, 皆跨大海) ... Goryeo later expanded its land further, united three kingdoms of former SillaSillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, BaekjeBaekjeBaekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
and Goguryeo and merged them into one nation (後闢地益廣, 幷古新羅·百濟·高句麗三國而爲一)."
The Chinese government and communist party's attempted revision of Goguryeo history, in an attempt to overrule the foregoing thousands of years' orthodox, is not universally accepted in the PRC. In 2006, a senior scholar from Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
affirmed Goguryeo as a part of Korean history and denied Chinese connections.
He has expressed disagreement with the CASS
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences , established in 1977, is the premier and highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies in the People's Republic of China. It was described by Foreign Policy...
institute, the PRC government institution running the Northeast Project, and indirectly criticized the project on behalf of the Peking University Department of History.
Political motives
Some historians and political analysts believe that the Northeast Project is a defensive move by China to strengthen its claim on current territory and prepare for possible land disputes with a unified Korea, and also promote national unity upon rising inter-ethnic tensions. The Chinese government fears that if North and South Korea unite, the 2 million ethnic Koreans living in Manchuria will secede from China and reclaim some of what used to be "Greater Korea". On the other hand, there are also other historians and political analysts who believe the Northeast Project to be an attempt to establish historical justification for possible Chinese takeover of North Korea or political intervention on North Korea upon its collapse.Political effects
The Northeast Project quickly caught the attention of the Korean press and caused a massive public outrage in Korea. In response, China blocked access to Chinese language websites protesting China's claims on Goguryeo. South Korean newspaper The Hankyoreh also reported that the Chinese government was responsible for shutting down of a popular community website for ethnic Koreans in China, where there was active criticism against the Chinese government's claims on Goguryeo.Coupled with various provocations, such as sending threats to Korean parliamentary members, the Goguryeo controversy generated an anti-Chinese sentiment that reversed the anti-US and pro-China atmosphere in Korea along with a possible shift in Korea's security strategy. On a 2006 poll commissioned by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, South Koreans chose China as the greatest security threat in 10 years.