150 korea
On Jan.7, 983, a Koryo mission was received at the Sung court,
announcing that Wang Chou had died and that his younger brother
Ch’ih (Songjong) had succeeded him.^48 The envoys presented gold
and silver threaded mats, brocade garments, bedding, knives, bows,
and arrows ornamented with silver and gold, fine horses, and aromatic
drugs. T’ai-tsung sent envoys in response and appointed Ch’ih as
Grand Guardian, Military Governor of Hsüan-t’u subcommandery,
and Military Commissioner of the non-existant Army of Great Obedi-
ence, and recognized him as king of Koryo (Sung shih 4:17a; 487:3a;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 325:51a).
On Dec.1, 984, envoys from Wang Ch’ih to the Sung court offered
gifts. In 985, T’ai-tsung made him Acting Grand Tutor and sent a
mission in response (Sung shih) 487:3a).
In the 7th month (July/Aug.) of 985, Sheng-tsung of Liao ordered
that preparations be made for an attack on Koryo (Liao shih 115:1a).
This was, however, postponed. During the same year, a Sung mission
to the Koryo court proposed an alliance against Liao. This came to
nothing.^49
In 986, Wang Ch’ih attacked the Jurchen and simultaneously
sent a mission to the Sung court. Emperor T’ai-tsung showed the
envoys the document in which the Jurchen had informed him about
the emergency. He demanded that Koryo should return the prison-
ers it had taken (Sung shih 5:5a; 487:3a-3b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 325:
51a). The Jurchen in question must have been those living in the
Yalu River valley, whom the Sung hoped to mobilize against Liao.^50
A conflict between the Jurchen and Koryo was therefore not in Sung’s
interest.
On Nov.21, 986, another mission from Koryo offered gifts to the
Sung court. It included two natives who were to study under the aegis
of the Directorate of Education (Sung shih 487:5a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
325:51b).
On Apr.21, 988, T’ai-tsung appointed Wang Ch’ih Acting Grand
Commandant and Military Commissioner of the non-existant Army
Which Quiets the Sea. On May 12, the emperor sent a Supernumerary
(^48) Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.200 dates this mission 982, 8th month,
kuei-ch’ou, but that date did not exist.
(^49) See Rogers, “Factionalism and Koryo Policy”, p.16 note 4.
(^50) See The Cambridge History of China, vol.6, p.102.