130 korea
In 692, Chin Cheng-ming died and was succeeded by his son Li-
hung (Hyoso Wang). The empress Wu commenced mourning for
Cheng-ming and sent envoys to condole and sacrifice. On Mar.28,
693, she appointed Li-hung as General-in-chief Who Supports the
State, General-in-chief of the Leopard Bow-case Guards, and Military
Governor of the non-existant Chi-lin Area Command, and recog-
nized him as king of Silla (Chiu T’ang shu 199A:12a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.6490).
In the 2nd month (Mar./Apr.) of 699, envoys from Chin Li-hung
offered regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).
In 702, Li-hung died and was succeedeed by a younger brother
(Songdok Wang). The Empress Wu commenced mourning for Li-hung
and suspended the court for two days. She sent envoys to confer on the
new king the titles of his brother and recognize him as king of Silla.
Since his original given name, from the Chinese point of view, violated
an imperial taboo, the Empress Wu changed it to Hsing-kuang in 712
(Chiu T’ang shu 199A:12a; T’ang hui-yao 95:16b). The only purpose of
this high-handed and sino-centric measure must have been for Chinese
domestic use. It would have been ignored in Silla.
In the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 704, in the 3rd (Mar./Apr.) and
9th month (Sep./Oct.) of 705, in early 706, and in the 8th (Sep./Oct.)
and 10th month (Nov.Dec.) of the same year, Silla envoys offered
regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026)
In 707, Emperor Chung-tsung appointed the king of Silla as Gen-
eral-in-chief of Agile Cavalry (T’ang-hui-yao 95:16b).
In the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 708) of the Chinese year 707, in the
6th month (July/Aug.) of 709, in the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 710,
in the 12th month (Jan./Dec., 712)^25 of the Chinese year 711, in the
2nd month (Mar.Apr.) of 712, and in the 12th month (January, 713)
of the Chinese year 712, Silla envoys offered regional objects (Ts’e-fu
yüan-kuei pp.5026, 5027).
According to Hsin T’ang shu 220:10a and Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:55b,
Silla between 713 and 741 frequently sent envoys to offer fruits and
inferior horses. It also presented two women. Emperor Hsüan-tsung
remarked that these were the paternal aunts or sisters of the king, and
that he did not have the heart to keep them. He sent them home with
(^25) Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026 says 11th month, but the entry is preceded by another
which is also dated 11th month. The second “11th” should therefore be emended
to “12th”.