200 the northeast
867- 886: 0
887- 906: 0
907- 926: 6
927- 946: 1
947- 966: 0
967- 986: 0
987-1006: 1
The number of recorded missions before the rebellion of An Lu-shan
in 755 is 19, and after it, until the end of T’ang, 26. In spite of the
disruptions caused by that uprising, the missions not only kept coming
but increased in number. This must have been due to the proximity of
the Hsi which facilitated trade and even more so by China’s chronic
need for horses. The drop at the end of T’ang from 847 to 906 must
have been due to unsettled conditions, dangerous journeys, and an
impoverished T’ang court.
The commodities brought by the Hsi missions are rarely mentioned,
but musk is recorded for 724, and horses for 816, 924, and 926. The
Chinese paid with gold and silk.
THE HSI
These Hsi are not to be confused with the Hsi of the preceding sec-
tion. The tribes are in the Chinese written with different characters.
According to Wittfogel (Liao, p.149 note 8), they lived in late T’ang
times at the Western Liao River or Shira Muren in northeastern Jehol.
Their language may have been related to that of the Khitan.
On Feb.11, 593, Hsi envoys to the Sui court offered regional objects
(Sui shu 2:8b; T’ung-tien 200:49b).
In 629, Hsi envoys to the T’ang court offered regional objects (Chiu
T’ang shu 199B:13b; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 344:
14b).
Po-hai
The Mo-ho were a Tungusic people, which in Northern Wei times
had been known as the Wu-chi. They were divided into a number
of tribes, occupying the area from central Manuchuria around the