the middle east 359In the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 773) of the Chinese year 772, Arab
envoys offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5031).
In the 7th month (Aug./Sep.) of 774, envoys from the black-robed
Arabs were received at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5032).
In the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 791, envoys from the black-robed
Arabs offered gifts (Chiu T’ang shu 13:5b; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5032).
In the 9th month (Oct./Nov.) of 798, three envoys from the black-
robed Arabs were received at the T’ang court, and all were appointed
Generals of the Gentlemen-of-the-Household (T’ang hui-yao 100:13b;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:56b). These appointments show that they
were not lower-echelon envoys. At that time both the Arabs and the
Chinese were at war with the Tibetans. It is possible that the mission
came from the caliph Harån al-RashÊd, proposing an alliance. If so,
nothing came of it. This was the last recorded mission from the Arabs
in T’ang times.
On Oct.28, 924, the Arab State offered gifts to the Liao court (Liao
shih 2:4b).
When in 966, a Buddhist priest travelled west, Emperor T’ai-tsu
of Sung entrusted to him a letter summoning the king (caliph) to his
court (Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:56b).
On Jan.7, 969, envoys from the Arab State offered regional objects
(Sung shih 2:7a; 490:17a; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.82; Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:56b).
In the 7th month (July/Aug.) of 971, the Arabs offered regional
objects. On Aug.7, their chief envoy was appointed General Who
Cherishes Civilization and presented with five-coloured damask with
golden flowers (Sung shih 490:17a; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien
p.103;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:56b).
In the 3rd month (Apr./May) of 973, Arab envoys offered regional
objects (Sung shih 490:17a; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.114;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:56b).
On Jan.13, 974, an envoy from the king (caliph) of the Arab State
offered regional objects (Sung shih 3:6b; 490:17a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
339:56b).^11
On May 7, 975,^12 envoys from the Arab State offered presents
(Sung shih 3:7b).
(^11) The personal name of the king is by Sung shih 490:17a given as K’o-lo-fo
(caliph).
(^12) Correcting chi-hai to yi-hai.