148 korea
an Acting Commandant of the Guards. His deputy, a member of the
Defense Guard Command of the Right, was made a Junior Inspector
of the Court Architect (Wu-tai hui-yao 30:7a).
Emperor Shih-tsung of Later Chou (r.954-959) sent a Supernu-
merary Gentleman of the Bureau of Waterways and Irrigation of the
Masters of Writing to Koryo to buy copper for casting cash, for which
he paid with several 1000 bolts of silk (Hsin Wu-tai shih 74:14a).
In the 10th month (Oct./Nov.) of 954, a high official from Koryo
offered regional objects to the Later Chou court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5036).
On Nov.30, 955, Koryo envoys to the Later Chou court presented
regional objects and congratulated on the ascension of Emperor
Shih-tsung (on Feb.22, 954) (Chiu wu-tai shih 115:9a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5036).^44
In the 12th month (January, 956) of the Chinese year 955, Shih-tsung
of Later Chou appointed Wang Chao as Commander Unequalled in
Honour and Acting Grand Master and once more recognized him as
king of Koryo (Wu-tai hui-yao 30:7a).
In the 7th month (July/Aug.) of 958, the Later Chou sent a Supernu-
merary Gentleman of the Bureau of Waterways and the Chief Steward
of the Imperial Hand-drawn Carriage Service as envoys to the Koryo
court, where they presented 1000 bolts of silk (Wu-tai hui-yao 30:7a).
On Feb.16, 959, Wang Chao’s envoys to the Later Chou court
offered fine horses, woven robes, bows, swords, armour, 2000 pieces
each of purple and white rock crystals, and 50,000 catties of yellow
copper. On Oct.4, Koryo presented four different editions of the Clas-
sic of Filial Piety. On Oct.28, the Later Chou sent a General-in-chief
of the Resolute Guards of the Left as envoy to the Koryo court (Chiu
wu-tai shih 119:1a; 138:6b; Hsin Wu-tai shih 12:6b; 74:14a; Ts’e-fu yüan-
kuei p.5036).
On Oct.17, 959, the last Later Chou emperor, Kung, reconfirmed
Wang Chao as Acting Grand Master (Chiu wu-tai shih 120:5b).
In the 11th month (December) of 959, envoys from Koryo to the
Later Chou court offered 50,000 catties of copper etc. (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5036).^45 This was the last recorded mission from Koryo to China
(^44) Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei wrongly dates this mission in the 11th month. The 11th did
not have the cyclical characters mou-yin.
(^45) According to Wu-tai hui-yao 30:7b the copper and rock crystals were all pre-
sented in the 11th month.