140 korea
in the Chinese metropolis chiefly for their own amusement.
Relations between T’ang and Silla, except for the brief war in 675,
were generally cordial. The Chinese court conferred no posthumous
titles on the kings of Koguryo and only one on a king of Paekche.
Condolences were rendered for a single king of Koguryo and none
of Paekche. Mourning was held for a single king of Koguryo and
Paekche each. In contrast, posthumous titles are recorded for Silla’s
Chinp’yong Wang, Sondok Yowang, Chindok Yowang, and Songdok
Wang. The T’ang condoled and sacrificed at the death of Chindok
Yowang, Sinmun Wang, Songdok Wang, Hyosong Wang, Kyongdok
Wang, and Aejang Wang, and it held mourning for the Sinmun Wang
and Hyoso Wang. This list may not be complete. Why, for instance,
is no action of the T’ang court recorded after the death of the Muryol
Wang, Munmu Wang, Hyegong Wang, Sosong Wang, Hondok Wang,
and Hungdok Wang?^35 But even allowing for omissions in the records
for Silla, as also in those for Koguryo and Paekche, it is still true
beyond question that Silla was diplomatically closer to China than
the other two states.
During the Six Dynasties, the missions from Silla to the southern
courts had by necessity come by sea, since the land route was blocked.
In T’ang times, Silla could make use of the land route. The preferred
times of travel where the winter and spring. The envoys might stay
in the Chinese capital for extended periods of time. Six missions for
the New Year congratulations are recorded to have arrived in the
preceding 2nd months, one in the 3rd, two in the 4th, and one in the
5th. It means that on each occasion the envoys stayed in Ch’ang-an
for the better part of the year, which gave them ample opportunity
for commerce and enjoyment.
The statistics are, as usual, not entirely, but nearly, complete. Sui
shu 81:8b states that from 605, Silla annually sent missions, but only
one for 615 is recorded. Chiu T’ang shu 199A:10b says that from 621
the missions were uninterrupted. In fact, missions are recorded for
623, 625, 626, 627 (2), 629, 631, and 632. According to T’ang hui-yao
95:17b, Silla incessantly sent envoys from 745. Missions are recorded
for 746, 748, and 753. Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:56a records that from
(^35) It should be noted, however, that all but the first two of these kings ruled after
An Lu-shan’s rebellion in 755, when relations between T’ang and Silla became less
intimate and the Chinese attitude may have changed.