A number of globally influential textbook publishers have labeled Balhae, an ancient Korean kingdom, using the Chinese transliteration “Pohai” instead of its proper name. This misrepresentation requires immediate correction.
China has been advancing its “Northeast Project” since 2002, an effort to claim all historical entities within its current borders as part of Chinese history. Through this initiative, China has asserted that Korea’s Goguryeo was merely a local regime of China and that Balhae was a provincial government under the Tang Dynasty.
Although the Northeast Project officially ended in 2007, its distorted historical claims continue to spread through China’s influential online platforms. For instance, as of December 2020, Baidu Baike, a Chinese encyclopedia with 544 million users, falsely describes Goguryeo as a border regime of China and Balhae as a state founded by the Mohe (Malgal) people, led by Dae Jo-yeong in 698.
The problem now extends beyond China, as these distorted historical claims are being disseminated globally through major U.S. and U.K. textbook publishers.
VANK has discovered that several prominent educational publishers, including National Geographic, Pearson Prentice Hall, Oxford, and Dorling Kindersley (DK), have labeled Balhae (698–926) as “Pohai” in their world history textbooks instead of its proper Korean name.
Given that these publishers shape the historical understanding of students worldwide, it is critical to correct the misrepresentation of Balhae as part of Chinese history.
Specific instances of mislabeling include:
- Almanac of World History (Third Edition, National Geographic), page 121: A map of the Tang Dynasty labels Balhae as “Pohai.”
- Concise History of The World: An Illustrated Time Line (National Geographic), page 133: Another map under the Tang Dynasty section marks Balhae as “Pohai.”
- Atlas of World History (Second Edition, jointly published by Pearson Prentice Hall and DK), page 49: A world history map labels Balhae as “Pohai.”
- Atlas of World History Concise Edition (Oxford), page 72: A map of East Asia during the Tang Dynasty also misidentifies Balhae as “Pohai.”
These textbooks are currently being sold worldwide through Amazon, further amplifying the spread of historical inaccuracies.
According to the Korean National Encyclopedia of Cultural Heritage, Balhae (698–926) was an ancient Korean state that coexisted with Unified Silla during Korea’s “Northern and Southern States” period. It was established by Dae Jo-yeong, a former Goguryeo general, who led Goguryeo refugees and Malgal tribes to found the kingdom.
China’s efforts to label Balhae as a Chinese dynasty and promote the name “Pohai” are part of its broader historical revisionism. If this misrepresentation continues unchecked, there is a significant risk that Balhae will be incorrectly recognized worldwide as part of Chinese history.
A major global reference source, Encyclopædia Britannica, currently lists both the Korean and Chinese names for Balhae:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Parhae
In response, VANK has launched a campaign urging National Geographic, Pearson Prentice Hall, Oxford, and Dorling Kindersley (DK) to adopt the correct historical name for Balhae in their publications.