continental south asia and the islands 17Chiao-chih finally gained independence during the Five Dynasties.
After the rule of a number of local strongmen, Ting Lien became
the king of Chiao-chih. On Aug.19, 973, his envoys to the Sung court
offered regional objects.^46 T’ai-tsu appointed him Acting Grand Master,
Military Commissioner of the non-existant Army Which Quiets the
Sea, and Protector General of Annam. The envoys were appointed
to Chinese nominal offices^47 (Sung shih 3:3b; 488:2a; Wen-hsien t’ung-
k’ao 330:4b).
On July 4, 975, Ting Lien’s envoys offered rhinoceros horns,^48
elephant tusks, and aromatic drugs. That autumn, T’ai-tsu appointed
him Commander Unequalled in Honours,^49 reconfirmed him as
Acting Grand Master, and recognized him as king of Chiao-chih
commandery^50 (Sung shih 3:8a; 488:2a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 330:4b).
After T’ai-tsung had ascended the Sung throne on Nov.14, 976,
envoys from Ting Lien congratulated and offered regional objects in
the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 978) of the Chinese year 977 (Sung shih
488:2b;Sung hui-yao kao 10122:2a;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 330:4b).
Ting Lien was in 979 succeeded by his younger brother Hsüan.^51
A Sung mission arrived after Lien’s death. In the winter of 980,
envoys from Hsüan offered regional objects. Soon thereafter, he was
overthrown and placed under house arrest by the high dignitary Li
(^46) Sung hui-yao kao 10122:1b dates this mission in the 4th month (May/June).
When the sources state that foreign countries sent missions, the dates refer to the
times when they were received, not to the times when they departed from their
home countries.
(^47) The nominal offices conferred on envoys mentioned in this chapter were
Supreme Pillar of State, Grand Commandant, Grandee for Court Service, Grandee
for Closing Court, Imperial Household Grandee of the Golden Seal and Purple
Ribbon, Imperial Household Grandee of the Silver Seal and Blue Ribbon, Grandee
Secretary, Palace Inspector Examining the Halls, Supernumerary Gentleman of the
Ministry of Personnel, General-in-chief of the Guards of the Golden Mace of the Right,
General-in-chief Who Maintains Obedience and Longs for Civilization, General of
the Gentlemen, General of the Gentlemen Who Maintain Obedience, General Who
Brings Repose to the Distance, General Who Cherishes the Distance, General Who
Cherishes Civilization, General Who Scouts and Attacks, and Chief Commandant of
the Courageous Garrison. Others were appointed to the Assault-resisting [Garrison]
or the Courageous Garrison of the Left at the Four Gates.
(^48) Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao omits “horns”.
(^49) An honorific of high prestige.
(^50) Whenever the Chinese added “commandery” to a foreign title, it was with
the pretense that the foreign country really was a unit of the Chinese local admin-
istration.
(^51) The year is according to Mathias Tchang, Synchronismes p.347.