144 korea
Texts810: Buddhist sutras.
The recorded Chinese offerings were brocades, gauzes and other
silken fabrics, embroidered robes, belts, vessels of gold and silver,
door screens, books, and cockatoos.
KORYO[
During Sui and T’ang, Chinese relations with Korea had been rela-
tively simple. Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla fought each other in varying
combinations, while China attempted to restore the borders of Han
times or even go beyond them. When this proved unsucessful, the T’ang
learned to coexist peacefully with Silla, in which process the unified
Korea continued to be inspired by the splendid T’ang culture, and
Silla and T’ang benefited from political and commercial relations.
From the 10th century, the situation changed. China and the new
state of Koryo (916-1392) had not only to deal with each other but
also with two consecutive great powers in the north, the Khitan/Liao
(907-1125) and the Jurchen/Chin (1115-1234). In the process, diplo-
matic relations became more complicated and at the same time also
more sophisticated.
In 901, the Buddhist monk Kung-yi (Kungye) founded a state in the
central part of northern Korea, proclaiming himself king and calling
his domain Ta-feng (T’aebong) (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.8848). The state
has also been known as Later Koguryo.
In the 10th month (Nov./Dec.) of 915, envoys from Kung-yi to
the Khitan court presented a precious sword (Liao shih 1:8b). In 918
Kung-yi was overthrown by his officer Wang Chien (Wang Kon) and
subsequently killed. Wang Chien (T’aejo) made himself king and short-
ened the name of the state to Koryo (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.8861).
Wang Chien immediately opened relations with neighbouring states.
In the 2nd month (Mar./Apr.) of 918, his envoys offered a precious
sword to the Khitan court.In the 3rd month (Apr./May) of the same
year, another Koryo mission was received at the Khitan court (Liao
shih 1:10a-10b; 70:1b; 115:1a). In the 7th month (July/Aug.) of 919,
envoys from Koryo arrived in the Chinese state of Wu[-yüeh] (Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien p.8848). In 923, a Koryo mision was received at the court