korea 183powers,Liao shih claims that Wang Hsün “surrendered” and “begged
to call himself a vassal and offer tribute”, and that Sheng-tsung of
Liao “pardoned Wang Hsün’s crimes”. Shorn of its dynastic language,
this means no more than that the two states concluded peace as equal
partners (formalized in 1022). In fact, Wang Hsün kept his own reign
title and continued his diplomatic relations with Sung.
When in 1078 a Sung mission was received by Wang Hui of Koryo,
Sung shih interprets this as Koryo’s surrender to Sung. But it adds
disapprovingly that Hui also accepted recognition from the Liao and
used its calendar (Sung shih 487:15b). In reality, Koryo attempted to
make use of Sung to preserve its independence from Liao.^99
When Wang Yu of Koryo in 1114 thanked Liao for having been
recognized at his previous rank after the mourning period for his
mother, this was an empty diplomatic gesture which changed noth-
ing in practice.
When Wang K’ai of Koryo in 1126 “presented a memorial [to Chin]
and declared himself a vassal”, the terminology meant no more than
it had done in Liao times. It is a fact that on Dec.24, 1130, Wang
K’ai sent envoys to Chin with his oath of allegiance.^100 But he felt,
no doubt, that the independence of Koryo was worth an oath, and
he also kept his own reign title.
When Chin in 1136 presented its calendar to Koryo, its acceptance
was another symbolic gesture.
When Wang Hao in 1170 had overthrown his brother Hsien and
made himself king of Koryo, Shih-tsung of Chin sent an envoy to
Koryo to look into the matter. This may have satisfied Shih-tsung’s
ego but served no practical purpose, since he recognized Wang Hao
as king in 1171.
When Shih-tsung announced in 1184 that because of special cir-
cumstances Southern Sung was not expected to congratulate on the
New Year’s Day and the imperial birthday, and that Koryo and Hsia
were not expected to do so on his birthday, Chin shih states that these
(^99) In 938, Koryo used the Later Chin calendar, in 948 the Later Han calendar, in
952 the Later Chou calendar, and in 963 the Sung calendar. In 994 it adopted the
Liao calendar, in 1016 the Sung calendar, and in 1022 the Liao calendar (Wittfogel,
p.353, note 37). To this can be added that Koryo in 1136 was presented with the
Chin calendar. It is even possible that Koryo used different calendars simultaneously,
depending on which country it dealt with.
(^100) See Rogers in Rossabi, ed., China among Equals, p.161.