124 korea
envoys between 618-649. The recorded missions are 19. That comes
on the average to about one mission every 1½years, which can be
called incessant. On the other hand, Paekche congratulated in 643,
644, 645, and 652 on the New Year’s Day. Two missions in the 11th
month and one in the 12th probably stayed through the New Year
reception. Were these the only congratulations? Perhaps not. In num-
bers, the missions of Paekche are compatible with those of Koguryo,
31 compared to 26. This is their distribution by 20-year periods:
587-606: 4
607-626: 13
627-646: 11
647-666: 3
The middle period was obviously the most active.
As in the case of Koguryo, the goods exchanged are rarely men-
tioned, other than in general terms. In 621, Paekche offered inferior
horses, and in 624 and 638 gold and iron armour and axes. The
people of this state must have been skilled metal workers. The T’ang
gave in exchange silk and brocade robes.
Later Paekche
When rebellions broke out toward the end of the Silla rule of Korea,
the kingdom of Paekche was restored as Later Paekche in 892. In
935, it absorbed Silla, only to be destroyed by Koryo in 936.
A single mission from Later Paekche is recorded to the Later T’ang
of the Five Dynasties, which offered regional objects on Jan.31, 936
(Chiu Wu-tai shih 48:1a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5035).^14
Silla
During the Six Dynasties, Silla’s relations with foreign countries were
much more limited than those of Koguryo and Paekche. Only five
(^14) According to the Samguk sagi, Later Paekche presented horses to Wu-yüeh in
- See Worthy, Jr. in Rossaby ed., China among Equals, p.34.