the southwest 259The Kingdom of Women
Herrmann, Atlas of China, pp. 34-35, places this kingom north of the
upper course of the Indus in Tibet. Wen-hsien t’ung k’ao 339:55b calls
it the Western Kingdom of Women. It was ruled by queens (Sui shu
83:10a;T’ung-tien 193:22a).
Between 590 and 600, envoys from the Kingdom of Women to the
Sui court offered presents (T’ung-tien 193:22a).
Between 605 and 617, envoys from the Kingdom of Women were
received at the T’ang court and offered gifts (Pei shih 96:23b).
In 634, envoys from the Kingdom of Women offered gifts (Chiu
T’ang shu 3:3b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:55b).
On Jan.26, 643, the New Year’s Day, the Kingdom of Women
presented regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In the 1st month (February) of 656, probably on the New Year’s
Day on Feb.1, a female envoy from the Kingdom of Women and
three sons of its ruler, were received at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-
kuei p.5025).
In the late 680’s,^34 envoys from the Kingdom of Women offered
presents (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 742) of the Chinese year 741, a son
of the ruler of the Kingdom of Women was received at the T’ang
court (Chiu T’ang shu 9:4a).
In the 12th month (January, 797) of the Chinese year 796, envoys
from the Kingdom of Women offered gifts (Chiu T’ang shu 13:13b;
Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5032).
Nan-chao
The ruling tribe of the Nan-chao State claimed descent from the
Ai-lao (Chiu T’’ang shu 197:6b). The Ai-lao appeared for the first time
in Chinese history during Later Han times. Large numbers of them
submitted in A.D.51 and 69. During the latter year, Emperor Ming
created two new prefectures and the Yung-ch’ang commandery in
what now is western Yün-nan to settle them. These aboriginals, and
(^34) The text says ch’ui-kung 9th year, which date did not exist.