126 korea
On Dec.10, 631, Silla offered two female musicians with beautiful
hair. They pined for their homes. This was shorthly after Lin-yi had
presented a five-coloured parrot and a white cockatoo on Nov.30,
- Emperor T’ai-tsung’s trusted counsellor Wei Cheng (581-643)
considered it improper to accept the girls. T’ai-tsung said:”While the
parrot from Lin-yi can talk, it suffers from the cold and thinks of
returning home. How much more is this true for the two women, who
are separated from their relatives far away!” He rejected the girls and
released the birds (Chiu T’ang shu 199A:11a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6090;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:55b).
In 631, it became known at the T’ang court that the king of Silla,
Chin Chen-p’ing, had died. He had no sons, so that his daughter
Chin Shan-te (Sondok Yowang) was enthroned. T’ai-tsung bestowed
on Chin Chen-p’ing the posthumous title of Imperial Household
Grandee of the Left and contributed 200 items of objects toward the
funeral expenses (Chiu T’ang shu 199A:11a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6092;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:55b).
In 632, Silla offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In 635, T’ai-tsung sent envoys to appoint Chin Shan-te as Pillar of
State, entitle her queen of Lo-lang commandery, and recognize her
as queen of Silla (Chiu T’ang shu 199A:11a).
In 639 and in the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 642, Silla envoys brought
regional objects (Chiu T’ang shu 3:6b; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
On Jan.26, 643, the New Year’s Day, Silla offered regional objects
(Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
On Oct.21, 643, envoys arrived from Silla and announced that it
was under attack from Paekche and Koguryo, that it had lost more
than 40 of its towns, and that the route was cut on which its envoys
travelled to the T’ang court. It asked for support. T’ai-tsung sent an
Assistant of the Minister of Agriculture, urging the kings of Paekche
and Koguryo not to attack Silla (Chiu T’ang shu 199A:2b, 7b, 11a;
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6204; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:54b, 55b).^18
In the 11th month (Dec./Jan.) of 643 and on Feb.14, 644, the
New Year’s Day, Silla envoys offered regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-
kuei p.5024).
On Jan.17, 645, T’ai-tsung ordered an attack on Koguryo by land
(^18) Chiu T’ang shu and Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao date the attack of Paekche and Koguryo
642.