252 the southwest
recorded for 734, 735, and 736. According to T’ang hui-yao 97:7a, the
Tibetans sent seven missions from 766 to 775. Eight are recorded.
According to Chiu T’ang shu 196B:13a, the Tibetans sent envoys from
811 to 815 without interruption. The recorded missions are one for
812 and one for 815. According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 334:31a, the
Tibetans twice sent envoys from 827 to 835. Four missions are actu-
ally recorded. According to Chiu T’ang shu 196B:16a, the Tibetans sent
envoys without interruption from 831 to 834. The recorded missions
are for 831, 832, and 833. According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 334:31a,
the Tibetans sent envoys each fifth year after 835. The recorded mis-
sions are for 836, 837, 839, and 842. According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
335:33a, Tibetan envoys arrived each year or each second year after
- The only further missions to the Sung are recorded for 1077,
1086, 1088, 1094. The statistics are therefore fairly complete, except
for the Sung in the 11th century.
The Tibetans preferred the seasons of winter and spring for the
arrival of their missions in Ch’ang-an, which means that they departed
from their homeland in the fall and returned in the spring and sum-
mer, thus avoiding the harsh winters.
This is the distribution by 20-year periods of the 166 recorded
Tibetan missions to T’ang, Later Liang, Later T’ang, Later Chin,
Later Han, Later Chou, and Sung:
647- 666: 9
667- 686: 3
687- 706: 6
707- 726: 22
727- 746: 17
747- 766: 8
767- 786: 10
787- 806: 11
807- 826: 20
827- 846: 11
847- 866: 0
867- 886: 0
887- 906: 0
907- 926: 2
927- 946: 16
947- 966: 3
967- 986: 3