Mohe people

Mohe people
Chinese name
Chinese靺鞨 or 靺羯
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMòhé Mòjié
Wade–GilesMo-ho Mo-ja
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese/muɑt̚ kɑt̚/
Korean name
Hangul말갈
Hanja靺鞨
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationMalgal
McCune–ReischauerMalgal

The Mohe, Malgal, Mogher, or Mojie[1] were historical groups of people that once occupied parts of what is now Northeast Asia during late antiquity. The two most well known Mohe groups were known as the Heishui Mohe, located along the Amur River, and the Sumo Mohe, named after the Songhua River.[2] They have been traditionally defined by the approximate use of what would have been Tungusic languages. The Heishui Mohe are commonly thought as being direct ancestors to the 12th century Jurchens. The Tang documented the Mohe as inhabiting the land of Sushen, to the northeast of the Tang, east of the Turks, and north of Goguryeo.[3]

The Mohe constituted a major part of the population in the kingdom of Balhae in northeast Asia, which lasted from the late 7th century to early 10th century. After the fall of Balhae, few historical traces of the Mohe can be found, though they are considered to be the primary ethnic group from whom the Jurchen people descended. The Heishui Mohe in particular are considered to be the direct ancestors of the Jurchens, from whom the 17th century Manchu people and Qing dynasty founders originated.[4] The Mohe practiced a sedentary agrarian lifestyle and were predominantly farmers who grew soybean, wheat, millet, and rice, supplemented by pig raising and hunting for meat.[5][6] The Mohe were also known to have worn pig and dog skin coats.[7]

  1. ^ "唐与渤海、靺羯关系史上的两次出使".
  2. ^ Crossley 1997, p. 18.
  3. ^ Old Book of Tang, Chapter 199.
  4. ^ Huang, P.: "New Light on the origins of the Manchu," Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, vol. 50, no.1 (1990): 239-82. Retrieved from JSTOR database July 18, 2006.
  5. ^ Gorelova 2002, p. 14.
  6. ^ Aisin Gioro & Jin, p. 18.
  7. ^ Gorelova 2002, pp. 13-4.

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