230 the southwest
shu 5:3b; 196A:3b; 198:8a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6321, 6336, 6343).^2
From 670 to 692, they controlled the Tarim Basin.
In the 4th month (May) of 672, Tibetan envoys offered gifts. Kao-
tsung questioned them about their customs (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026;
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6368).
On May 24, 672, Kao-tsung sent the Commissioner of Waterways
as his envoy to Tibet (Tzu-chih-t’ung-chien p.6369).
On Feb.26, 675, a high official of the Tibetans was received at
the T’ang court. He asked for peace and a marriage alliance, and
for Chinese mediation between them and the T’u-yü-hun. Kao-tsung
rejected this (Chiu T’ang shu 5:6a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6375).
In 676, the Tibetans looted Chinese border lands and occupied
a swath of territory from present Lan-chou south (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.6380). This was followed by a great Chinese defeat near Ch’ing-hai
in 678.
On Mar.28, 679 it became known at the T’ang court that the king
of Tibet had died. He was succeeeded by his 8-year-old son (Chiu
T’ang shu 5:8a; 196A:4b).
On Nov.24, 679, a high official sent by the Princess of Wen-ch’eng
from Tibet to the T’ang court officially announced the death of the
king. She also requested peace and a marriage alliance, which was
rejected. Kao-tsung sent a General of the Gentlemen[-of-the-House-
hold] to condole and sacrifice (Chiu T’ang shu 5:8b; 196A:4b; Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien p.6393).
In 680, it became known at the T’ang court that the Princess of
Wen-ch’eng had died. Kao-tsung sent envoys to condole and sacrifice
(Chiu T’ang shu 196A:4b).
In the 7th month (August) of 680 and in the 7th month (Aug./Sep.)
of 682, the Tibetans looted Chinese border lands (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
pp.6395, 6412).
In 689 and 690, the Chinese attacked the Tibetans (Chiu T’ang shu
196A:4b).
In the 5th month (May/June) of 692, the chief of a Tibetan tribe
attempted on his own initiative to make peace with China but was
exposed and arrested by his own men. Another chief succeeded in
the same endeavour. The Chinese endowed his tribal territory with
(^2) For a detailed discussion of these events see the section on the T’u-yü-hun.