604 liao
of the Chinese states and the Khitan, the former never offered prin-
cesses in marriage and the latter never sought them.
In spite of tensions, there were attempts to observe diplomatic
protocol. Since, as will be seen, there seem to be many missed
opportunities at ceremonial occasions, it is possible that the sources
are incomplete. But it is equally possible and even more probable
that a routine exchange of missions was still in the process of coming
into existance.
The Southern T’ang congratulated in 948 on the entronement
of Shih-tsung of Liao, but no similar acts by the Five Dynasties
are recorded. On the other hand, the Khitan congratulated on the
enthronement of Shao of Later Chin in 942, of T’ai-tsu of Later Chou
in 951, and of T’ai-tsung of Sung in 977.
The Later Chin congratulated in 937 on the birthday of the Khitan
Empress Dowager, widow of T’ai-tsu. The Khitan congratulated on
the birthdays of of the Later Chin emperors Kao-tsu in 940 and 942
and of Shao in 943. This was the dynasty which at first was closest
to them.
The Later T’ang announced to the Khitan the death of Chuang-
tsung in 926 and of Ming-tsung in 934. At the former occasion, the
Khitan emperor T’ai-tsu pretended to weep. In 942, the Later Chin
announced the death of Kao-tsu to the Khitan. In the same year,
the Later Chin announced the death of Shao’s grandmother. The
Northern Han informed the Khitan of the death of Shih-tsu in 956,
of Jui-tsung’s mother in 966, and of Jui-tsung in 968. In 976, Sung
announced the death of T’ai-tsu to Liao. The Khitan announced the
death of T’ai-tsu in 926, and of the Grand Empress Dowager, mother
of T’ai-tsu, in 933, both to the Later T’ang. In 951, Liao informed
the Northern Han of the death of Shih-tsung.
In 951, Later Chou, Northern Han, and Southern T’ang condoled
on the death of the Khitan emperor Shih-tsung. In 912, the Khitan
condoled on the death of the founder of Later Liang and in 934
on that of Ming-tsung. In 942, they contributed toward the funeral
expenses of the grandmother of Shao of Later Chin. They condoled
in 956 on the death of Shih-tsu, in 966 on that of Jui-tsung’s mother,
and in 968 on that of Jui-tsung, all of Northern Han. In 977, they
condoled on the death of T’ai-tsung of Sung and contributed toward
his funeral expenses in 976.
In 926, the Later T’ang suspended the court for three days after