This paper focuses on the water transportation of the Songhua River(松花江), which flows across the Manchuria region, and analyzes how ancient Manchurian states such as Buyeo, Goguryeo, Wuji (勿吉), and Balhae(渤海) used the waterway of the Songhua River.
First, the water transport traffic of the Songhua River during that period was examined, focusing on Buyeo, which was founded and developed in the middle basin of the Songhua River flowing to the north. Baijinbao(⽩⾦寶)·Hanshu(漢書) ruins located in the Nunkjang(嫩江) basin. The wanghaitun (望海屯) ruins and the suoligou(索離溝)-Qinghua(慶華) ruins in the east-flowing Songhua River basin. Laoshu(楡樹) Laoheshen(⽼河深) ruins in the north-flowing Songhua River basin. The relationship between ruins related to the Buyeo culture and the river that flowed around them was analyzed. This suggested the possibility that these ruins and the Buyeo culture were formed and connected through the Songhua River-Nunkjang waterway.
And, as an example of water transportation in the ancient Manchurian region, the travel route of the Eulyeokji(⼄⼒⽀) reported in Wei Shu(魏書) Wuji Biography was reviewed. We paid attention to the fact that the Songhua River-Nunkjang-Taoer River(洮兒河) waterway was used in the travel of Eulyeokji according to the records, and confirmed that large-scale transportation of goods was possible through this waterway.
Songhua River water transportation was the core of the transportation network that connected the ancient Buyeo dominions. This was a transportation route that connected Goguryeo with the nomadic and hunting countries of the north, and was also a window through which Wuji advanced into the international community. And Balhae was the first country to organically connect and integrate northern water transport centered on the Songhua River. The ancient Songhua River-Nunkjang-Heilongjiang(⿊⿓江) waterway was a transportation route connecting each region of Manchuria and a blood vessel for material distribution.
