liao 573their orders on Aug.15, 1025 (Liao shih 17:1b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
ch’ang-pienp.921).
On Apr.30, 1026, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of Jen-tsung^98 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-
pienp.923).
On Nov.28, 1026,^99 two Sung envoys arrived at the Liao court to
congratulate on the birthday of Sheng-tsung’s empress (Liao shih 17:
3b).
On Feb.3, 1027, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate the Empress Dowager on the New Year’s Day of Feb.9 (Hsü
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.933).
On Feb.4, 1027, Liao, envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate [Jen-tsung] on the New Year’s Day of Feb.9 (Hsü Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.933).
On Feb.9, 1027, the New Year’s Day, Liao envoys to the Sung court
congratulated the Empress Dowager who sat behind a screen. They
saluted twice. On the same day, four Sung envoys congratulated at the
Liao court (Liao shih 17:4a; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.933).
On Feb.13, 1027,^100 Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of the Empress Dowager^101 (Hsü Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.934).
On May 19, 1027, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of Jen-tsung.^102 The chief envoy complained
that he was not received at the throne but placed with envoys from
lesser states at a distance. He was told that the protocol had been
approved by Chen-tsung and could not be changed but that Liao
and Sung in any event were equals. Jen-tsung ordered a court discus-
sion. One Grand Councilor considered this a trivial matter not worth
wrangling about. Another insisted that small concessions would lead
to big ones. His view was approved by the emperor (Liao shih 17:3b;
Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.936).
In the 11th month (December) of 1027, two Sung envoys arrived
at the Liao court to congratulate on the birthday of Sheng-tsung,^103
(^98) It fell on May 3.
(^99) Correcting yi-ch’ou to chi-ch’ou.
(^100) Correcting ping-wu to ping-tzu.
(^101) It fell on Feb.16.
(^102) It fell on May 22.
(^103) It fell on Mar.29, 1028.