34 continental south asia and the islands
and summer. The stay in the Chinese capital could be an extended
one. Li Huan’s son Ming-t’i arrived with a mission in K’ai-feng dur-
ing July 1004 and did not return until April, 1006 (Sung hui-yao kao
10122:7a-7b).
The following table shows the 82 recorded missions by 20-year
periods from Chiao-chih/Annam to the Sung:^84
967- 986: 10
987-1006: 7
1007-1026: 11
1027-1046: 11
1047-1066: 7
1067-1086: 8
1087-1106: 3
1107-1126: 2
1127-1146: 4
1147-1166: 5
1167-1186: 5
1187-1206: 2
1207-1226: 0
1227-1246: 2
1247-1266: 3
1267-1276:^85 2
The table brings out that for most of the Northern Sung (960-1126),
missions arrived regularly and in considerable numbers, with a reduc-
tion only in the last forty years. Diplomatic and commercial relations
consequently flourished. During the Southern Sung (1127-1276), on
the other hand, there was a remarkable decrease in contacts. Whereas
59 missions are recorded for Northern Sung, only 23 are for Southern
Sung. This striking phenomenon is not restricted to Southern Sung rela-
tions with Chiao-chih/Annam and will be further discussed below.
If the foreign envoys were entrusted with negotiating particular
issues, they went to the appropriate Chinese ministry, which then
reported to the throne, such as the Ministry of Rites on July 10, 1155,
(^84) It includes a mission from Li Te-cheng in 1031 in which he thanked for the
title of Meritorious Subject (Sung shih 9:13b, 488:12b).
(^85) 10-year period.