208 the northeast
with his rank (Chiu T’ang shu 199B:12b-13a; T’ang hui-yao 196:11b).
On Mar.2, 795, a Regular Palace Attendant was sent by Te-tsung
to appoint Ta Ch’in-mao’s son Sung-lin as General-in-chief of the
Resolute Guards of the Right and Military Governor of the non-
existant Hu-han Area Command, and to recognize him as king of
Po-hai commandery.^16 A mission of 32 men from Sung-lin protested
against the term “commandery”. All envoys were given Chinese titles
and sent back in the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 796) of the Chinese year
795 (Chiu T’ang shu 13:11a; 199B:13a; T’ang hui-yao196:11b, 12a).
In the 3rd month (Mar./Apr.) of 798, Te-tsung appointed Sung-lin
as Imperial Household Grandee of the Silver Seal and Blue Ribbon
and Acting Minister of Works, and “promoted” him to king of Po-hai
(Chiu T’ang shu 199B:13a; T’ang hui-yao 11b-12a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
326:58a).^17
In the 11th month (Dec,/Jan., 799) of the Chinese year 798, Te-
tsung appointed a nephew of Sung-lin as General of the Gentlemen-
of-the Household of the Resolute Guards of the Left (Chiu T’ang shu
199B:13a).
In the 11th month (Dec./Jan., 805) of the Chinese year 804, Po-hai
envoys were received at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5032).
In 805, an envoy from Sung-lin was received at the T’ang court.
Emperor Shun-tsung appointed the king as Imperial Household
Grandee of the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon and confirmed him
as Acting Minister of Works (Chiu T’ang shu 199B:13a).
On Dec.10, 806, Emperor Hsien-tsung appointed Sung-lin as Acting
Grand Commandant (Chiu T’ang shu 14:9b; 199B:13a).^18
On Feb.8, 807, Po-hai envoys offered gifts (Chiu T’ang shu 14:10a;
199B:13a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5032).
(^16) According to Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7565 and Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:58a, at
Ta Ch’in-mao’s death [in 784] his son Hung-lin was no longer alive. The relative
Ta Yüan-yi was enthroned but killed after one year, and Hung-lin’s son Hua-hsü
became king [in 786]. When Hua-hsü died, Ch’in-mao’s youngest son Sung-lin was
enthroned in the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 795) of the Chinese year 794. Chiu T’ang
shu 13:11a wrongly gives Ta Sung-lin’s name as Ta Sung.
(^17) According to Chiu T’ang shu, Sung-lin was promoted to king of Po-hai com-
mandery. But “commandery” must be an error, since he had been given that title
already in 795. In short, the T’ang reversed itself and recognized Sung-lin as king
of Po-hai.
(^18) Chiu T’ang shu 14:9b has 9th month, ping-hsü, 199B:13a has 10th month. The 9th
month did not have the cyclical characters ping-hsü so that 10th month is correct.