liao 609this was trade. Even though the Sung attempted to prevent its envoys
from engaging in private commerce, such a prohibition was difficult
to enforce, and trade could always be disguised as an exchange of
gifts. The Chinese needed little of what Liao had to offer and limited
the stay of of the Khitan envoys. The Liao welcomed the Chinese
envoys for much longer periods, perhaps because they had goods to
offer which the Khitan desired.
It happened that envoys found at their arrivals that celebrations
were cancelled. On Feb.14, 1040, the Sung New Year’s reception was
omitted because of an eclipse of the sun.^211 The Liao envoys were
merely provided with food and drink in their lodge. Shen-tsungs’s
birthday celebration in Sung on May 15, 1076, was cancelled because
of mourning for the Liao Empress Dowager. The Liao envoys were
not received. On Jan.23, 1092, and Jan.16, 1097, Che-tsung held no
receptions on the New Year’s Days. The Liao envoys congratulated
at the Audience Gate. On Jan.24, 1099, Che-tsung did not hold the
New Year’s reception because of a snowfall. The Liao envoys again
congratulated at the Audience gate.
Envoys profited from their missions and probably eagerly sought
such assignments. The Liao envoys are known to have received gar-
ments, caps, belts, shoes, silver, silver objects, and silk.^212 All envoys
engaged in private trade. Entertainment was another benefit. Banquets
were a matter of course. In 975, T’ai-tsu, founder of Sung, invited
the Liao envoys to a hunt. In 976, he watched an archery contest on
horseback between Liao envoys and Chinese. In 997, T’ai-tsung of
Sung watched another archery contest on horseback between Liao
envoys and Chinese guards. In 979, T’ai-tsung summoned Liao envoys
to watch archery practice. In 1005, a sick Liao envoy was treated by a
Chinese physician, sent by the Sung emperor himself. In 1006, Khitan
food was prepared for the Liao envoys. In 1005, the Liao emperor
summoned the Chinese envoys to a poetry reading.
On the other hand, envoys also faced danger and even death. In
926, a Later T’ang envoy to the Khitan court was imprisoned and
almost executed. In 928, a Khitan envoy was executed by Ming-tsung
of Later T’ang. In 937, the Later Chin released two Khitan envoys
(^211) As remarked before, it was a persistant Chinese superstition, although discredited
by their astronomers long since, that a solar eclipse was a baneful event.
(^212) See Wittfogel, Liao, pp.358-359 note 60.