234 the southwest
on a large stele. The imperial library was ordered to copy the Five
Confucian Classics which the Tibetans had requested, whereupon the
Tibetans sent envoys with thanks (Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 334:29b).^8
In 727, the Tibetans presented several 100 valuable vessels (Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 334:29b).
In 729, the Tibetans sent envoys “to request peace”. Hsüan-tsung
responded with an envoy of his own to the Princess of Chin-ch’eng,
and this envoy subsequently made a covenant with the king. In the
winter, an envoy of the princess arrived at the T’ang court (Chiu T’ang
shu 196A:8a-8b).
In the 4th month (Apr./May) of 730, Tibetan envoys offered gifts
(Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5028).
In the 5th month (May/June) of 730, Tibetan envoys presented a let-
ter at the border and “requested peace” (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6789).
In the 9th month (Oct./Nov.) and on Nov.21 of 730, the Tibetans
“requested peace” and a marriage alliance. Hsüan-tsung sent two
envoys to the king, who showed them Chinese imperial letters which
had been received in Tibet from 627. The king then ordered officials
to follow the Chinese envoys back to Ch’ang-an and offer regional
objects. Hsüan-tsung received them in audience, gave them a banquet,
and presented the head of the mission with a purple robe, a golden
belt, and a wallet for a fish token. The envoy rejected the wallet on
the grounds that it was unknown in his country. He also requested
on behalf of the princess copies of the Mao Odes, the Spring and Autumn
Annals, the Book of Rites, the anthology of literarture called the Wen-hsüan,
and the Cheng-tzu, a dictionary of correct characters. The emperor
ordered these works to be copied and provided, even though an official
protested that they contained information which should be reserved
for the Chinese and not be dissiminated to barbarians (Chiu T’ang shu
8:17b; 196A:9a; Hsin T’ang shu 5:10a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5028; Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien pp.6790-6791).^9
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 731) of the Chinese year 730, an
official of the king of Tibet presented regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-
kuei p.5028).
(^8) For the following years, the sources repeatedly state that Tibetans “requested
peace”, even when covenants should still have been in force. This may not have been
as odd as it seems and will be further discussed below.
(^9) Tzu-chih t’ung-chien dates the book request 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 731.