korea 129followed the Chinese envoy by sea to Shan-tung, where on Feb.10,
666 they attended Emperor Kao-tsung’s feng sacrifice and on Feb.12
hisshan sacrifice at Mount T’ai (Chiu T’ang shu 5:1a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.6344;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 325:50b).
In 668, Koguryo was destroyed by China, in alliance with Silla
(Chiu T’ang shu 5:2b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6356). Thereafter, Silla’s
relations with China began to cool, since a permanent Chinese occu-
pation of Paekche and Koguryo could not be to Silla’s benefit. From
673 onward, Silla began to receive loyalists and refugees from the old
Koguryo. In 674, it annexed what had been Paekche. At that time,
Fa-min’s younger brother Jen-wen was in Ch’ang-an. He had been
given the nominal Chinese title of Supernumerary General-in-chief
of the Resolute Guards and had been entitled duke of Lin-hai com-
mandery. Kao-tsung now took recourse to the old Chinese policy of
causing dissention by recognizing Jen-wen as king of Silla and sending
him back to his state (Chiu T’ang shu 5:5a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6370,
6372;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:55b).
In the 2nd month (March) of 675, the Chinese attacked Silla. They
were allied with the Mo-ho who raided the southern coast of Silla by
sea. Silla thereupon sent envoys to the T’ang court, offering gifts and
seeking peace. The Chinese texts state that Kao-tsung “pardoned”
Silla, abandoned Chin Jen-wen, and again recognized its king Chin
Fa-min. In the 9th month (Sep./Oct.) of the same year, envoys from
Chin Fa-min offered regional objects (Chiu T’ang shu 5:6a; Ts’e-fu yüan-
kuei p.5026; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6375; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:55b).
The “pardon” of the texts is, of course, mere window dressing. Chin
Fa-min, undeterred, took P’yongyang in 677, and unified Korea under
his dynasty (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6383).
On Dec.7, 681, it became known at the T’ang court that Chin
Fa-min had died and had been succeeded by his son Cheng-ming^24
(Sinmun Wang). He dispatched a mission to the T’ang court. Kao-
tsung sent envoys to recognize him as king of Silla and appointed
him to the offices of his father (Chiu T’ang shu5:10b; 199A:11b; T’ang
hui-yao 95:16a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:55b).
In 686, envoys from Cheng-ming brought a letter and requested
theRites of T’ang and other texts. The Empress Wu presented the king
50 chapters (chüan) of books (Chiu T’ang shu 199A:11b-12a).
(^24) Chiu T’ang shu 5:10b calls him Chin Cheng.