Princess Jeonghye of Balhae

Princess Jeonghye (정혜공주, 貞惠公主; lit. "the virtuous and kind princess") of the Dae clan (737–777 CE), was a princess of Balhae as the second and eldest-living daughter of King Mun (Dae Heummu).^[1] She was taught by Dunshi Yueli (敦诗悦礼) in her early years.

She died in the 4th year of Boryeok era (777 CE), when she was 40.^[2] According to the epitaph accompanying her tomb, she was married and gave birth to one son, but both her husband and child predeceased her.^[3]

During the period of mourning for her death, her father was said to be deeply saddened, refusing to attend to court affairs.

In 780, she was buried in a tomb at the western Jilleung (진릉, 珍陵), Seowon (서원, 西原), which is now known as part of the Ancient Tombs at Longtou Mountain, Jilin, China. An epitaph dedicated to her, describing her and praising her character, was created at the same time. The epitaph was skillfully written, consisting of 725 words composed in a prose style.^[4][5] The characters used to write her epitaph were Chinese, using the Tang dynasty's writing system, while other elements of the tomb were distinctly Goguryeo.^[6] The epitaph has provided historians with insight into the Balhae, such as demonstrating that they wrote using Chinese characters, were capable of skilled calligraphy, and were likely highly-learned in forms of literature.^[7][8]

In August 1949, scholars from Yanbian University discovered her tomb and epitaph in the Yujing Mountain, Jilin.^[9] The tomb was large, and included impressive sculptures and carvings, such as two stone lions.^[10]

See also

• Ancient Tombs at Longtou Mountain

References

1. 王禹浪 (2015-01-01). 东亚视野下的东北史地研究 (in Chinese). 社会科学文献出版社. ISBN 978-7-5097-7866-1.
2. Shin, Michael D. (2014-12-15). Korean History in Maps. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-09846-6.
3. 社会科学战线 (in Chinese). 吉林人民出版社. 1982.
4. 王卓; 杨春风 (2018-09-01). 东北文学文化 (in Chinese). 社会科学文献出版社. ISBN 978-7-5201-3201-5.
5. 王小甫 (2021-07-22). 隋唐五代史：世界帝國．開明開放 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 三民書局股份有限公司. ISBN 978-957-14-4811-4.
6. 王小甫 (2021-07-22). 隋唐五代史：世界帝國．開明開放 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 三民書局股份有限公司. ISBN 978-957-14-4811-4.
7. 赵俪生; 郑宝琦 (1992). 中国通史史论辞典 (in Chinese). 黑龙江人民出版社. ISBN 978-7-207-01566-2.
8. 文物集刋 (in Chinese). 文物出版社. 1980.
9. Korean History: Discovery of Its Characteristics and Developments. Hollym. 2004. ISBN 978-1-56591-177-2.
10. Yu, Chai-Shin (2012). The New History of Korean Civilization. iUniverse. ISBN 978-1-4620-5559-3.

• 정혜공주(貞惠公主) on Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).
• 정혜공주(貞惠公主,737~777) on Doosan Encyclopedia (in Korean).