214 the northeast
market. The latter was explicitly allowed by the Chinese government
in 713. Evidence that trade flourished is the fact that during some
years Po-hai missions arrived repeatedly, three in 719, four in 730,
two in 731, two in 732, two in 739, three in 740, three in 741, five
in 767, two in 769, two in 772, five in 773, two in 774, three in 775,
four in 777, two in 791, two in 810, three in 814, two in 816, two in
820, two in 833, and two in 924. There were not enough diplomatic
issues between Po-hai and China to justify such a plethora of missions.
The motive was commerce.
According to Chiu T’ang shu 199B:11b, the Po-hai State sent annual
missions to the T’ang court from 713. The sources record missions
from 713 to 725 for all years except 715, 720, and 723. According
toWen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:58a, Po-hai sent 25 missions from 766 to
- 25 are, in fact, recorded. According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:
58a, four missions were sent from 780 to 805. No less than eight are
recorded. According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:58a, Po-hai sent 16
missions from 806 to 820. 17 are recorded. According to Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 326:58a, four missions were sent from 821 to 824. Two are
recorded. According to Chiu T’ang shu 199B:13b, Po-hai sent missions
every year from 825-827, according to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:58a
twice. Two missions are recorded. According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:
58a, 12 Po-hai missions arrived from 827 to 840. Nine are recorded.
According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:58a, four missions were sent from
841 to 846. One is recorded. According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 326:
58a, Po-hai sent three missions from 860 to 874. None is recorded.
Clearly, the dated entries are almost complete for the earlier period,
whereas summary entries prevail for the end of T’ang.
The missions from Po-hai to T’ang arrived by sea, with probably
Teng on the northern shore of the Shan-tung peninsula as the main
port. The preferred seasons were the winter and spring. This is the
distribution by 20-year periods of the 132 recorded Mo-ho/Po-hai
missions to Sui, T’ang, Later Liang, Later T’ang, and Wu-yüeh until
924:
587-606: 4
607-626: 4
627-646: 4
647-666: 0
667-686: 0
687-706: 1