422 the turkic tribes
horses, sable furs, white cotton fabrics etc. Su-tsung appointed the
chief envoy a Commander Unequalled in Honour. On Aug.25, 758,
the emperor’s second daughter, the Princess of Ning-kuo, was selected
to become the bride of the qaghan (Chiu T’ang shu 10:9a; 195:4a-4b;
T’ang hui-yao 98:3b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7059; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 347:
28b).
On Aug 31, 758, Su-tsung recognized the Ko-le Qaghan of the
Uighurs as P’i-chia-ch’üeh Qaghan, Who Is Brave and Martial and
Awes the Distance. He appointed his own first cousin, the king of
Han-chung Li Yü,^54 as Specially Advanced, Acting Grand Master of
Ceremonies, Acting Grandee Secretary, and envoy for the ritual of
conveying the document (Chiu T’ang shu 195:4b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.7059;Wen -hsien t’ung-k’ao 347:28b).
On Sep.1, the princess departed from Ch’ang-an, escorted by Li
Yü. His deputy Li Sun was a second cousin^55 of the emperor, who for
that purpose was appointed a Gentleman-of-the-Palace of the Ministry
of Arms, Acting Palace Assistant Secretary, and Acting Grand Herald.
The Commander Unequalled in Honour and Acting Supervisor of
the Right^56 of the Masters of Writing, the duke of Chi, P’ei Mien, was
to conduct the cortège to the border. The emperor travelled with his
daughter a short distance and then returned (Chiu T’ang shu195:4a-4b;
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7059; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 347:28b).
The account of the reception by the Uighurs is based on Li Yü’s
report, which contained the usual self-serving and sino-centric mis-
statements. When the Chinese reached the camp of the qaghan, the
qaghan sat on a couch dressed in a yellow-ochre robe and a barbarian
hat, surrounded by guards. Yü stood outside the tent. The qaghan
asked him how he was related to the emperor, which he answered.
The qaghan then inquired who was standing in front of him. Yü said
a palace eunuch. The qaghan noted that a palace eunuch is a slave.
How could he stand in front of a gentleman? The eunuch thereupon
stepped back. Yü remained standing and did not salute the qaghan.
The latter said that this was a breach of protocol. Yü answered that
because of the qaghan’s merit, the Son of Heaven of the T’ang had
(^54) Not to be confused with the Liu Yü who became Emperor Tai-tsung. The
names are written with different characters in the Chinese.
(^55) Not a nephew as stated by Chiu T’ang shu. See Mackerras, op.cit., p.134 note
- 56
Tzu-shih t’ung-chien says Left.