268 the southwest
return in the 7th month (August) of 878 brought a Nan-chao lu (Record
of Nan-chao) in 3 chapters. Subsequently, in spite of some looting of
Chinese lands, Nan-chao envoys proposed a marriage alliance (T’ang
hui-yao 99:8b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 329:72a).
In the 7th month (Feb./Mar.) of 882, Nan-chao envoys repeated
the request for a marriage. Hsi-tsung agreed and for that purpose
enfeoffed a lady of the imperial house as Princess of An-hua (Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien p.8273; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 329:329:72a).
In the 7th month (Aug./Sep.) of 883, three high-ranking official
arrived from Nan-chao to welcome the princess. The well-known retired
Chinese official Kao P’ing (d.887), who at one point had been stationed
in Ssu-ch’uan, advised the court that the three men were the “stomach
and heart” of Nan-chao and that they should be poisoned. Hsi-tsung
accepted this. The envoys were informed that the marriage should be
postponed because, due to the emperor’s absence from the capital on
a tour of inspection, the protocol could not be prepared. The three
envoys did not accept the explanation but started their voyage home.
When they reached Ch’eng-tu, all were murdered (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.8297;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 329:72a).
Fa died in 897 and was succeeded as emperor of Nan-chao by his
son Shun-hua.^54 He wished to restore good relations with the T’ang and
sent envoys to Chinese border officials. Emperor Chao-tsung wished
to respond. But a Chinese official memorialized that the Nan-chao
were lesser barbarians who should be ignored. Chao-tsung accepted
this, after which there were no further relations between China and
Nan-chao until the end of T’ang (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.8511-8512;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 329:72a).
In the 10th month (Nov./Dec.) of 926, envoys [from Nan-chao]
were received in audience by Emperor Ming-tsung of Later T’ang.
The chief envoy was made a General Who Brings Repose to the
Distance and his deputy a General Who Consolidates the Distance
(Wu-tai hui-yao 30:12b-13a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 329:72a).
In the 7th month (August) of 927, Ming-tsung of Later T’ang sent a
General-in-chief of the Guards of the Left as envoy to the barbarians
[of Nan-chao] (Wu-tai hui-yao 30:13a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 329:72a).
On June 13, 1076, envoys from the Ta-li State (Great Principle) to
the Sung court presented gems set in gold, mats, swords, and horse
(^54) Or Shun-hua-chen.