590 liao
On Jan.29, 1066, the New Year’s Day, Sung envoys congratulated
at the Liao court. Soon thereafter, one of the envoys died. His corpse
was sent back in accordance with ritual requirements (Liao shih 22:
54a).
On Apr.4, 1066, Sung envoys returned from the Liao court (Hsü
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1926).
On Jan.18,1067, the New Year’s Day, Liao envoys congratulated at
the Sung court. They were invited to a banquet, but since Ying-tsung
was dying, he ordered officials to be the hosts (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
ch’ang-pienp.1939).
On Jan.25, 1067, Emperor Ying-tsung died, aged 36. He was suc-
ceeded by his eldest son. This was Emperor Shen-tsung. His envoys
announced the death of Ying-tsung to the Liao court. On Mar.20,
Tao-tsung sent the Grand Guardian of the Imperial Bodyguards of
the Right and a Han-lin Academician to condole and sacrifice. On
July 16, these envoys and envoys from the Liao Empress Dowager
were received at the Sung court (Sung shih 13:7b; 14:1b; Sung hui-yao
kao5257:58b;Liao shih 22:4b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 346:24a).
On July 17, 1067, Sung envoys to the Liao court presented Ying-
tsung’s testamentary gifts (Liao shih 22:5a).
On Aug.7, 1067, a Sung envoy to the Liao court announced Shen-
tsung’s enthronement. Tao-tsung immediately sent a local administra-
tor and a Member of the Suite of the Palace Writers to congratulate.
They were received at the Sung court on Oct.29 ( Sung hui-yao kao
5257:59a;Liao shih 22:5a).
In the 9th month (Oct./Nov.) of 1067, Sung envoys to the Liao
court thanked [for the congratulations]. They also congratulated on
the birthday of Tao-tsung^169 and on the New Year’s Day of Feb.6,
1068 (Sung shih 14:4b).
On Sep.26, 1068, Sung envoys to the Liao court congratulated
on the birthday of Tao-tsung and on the New Year’s Day of Jan.26,
1069 (Sung shih 14:7b).
On Jan.21, 1069, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate on the New Year’s Day of Jan.26 (Sung shih 14:8a).
On Apr.29, 1069, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of Shen-tsung^170 (Sung shih 14:8b).
(^169) From Tao-tsung to the end of Liao the imperial birth dates are not known.
(^170) It fell on May 3.