52 continental south asia and the islands
this period. Even though here and below “incessantly” is an overused
term which is not to be taken verbatim, the information for Sui and
T’ang is nevertheless incomplete.
Chen-la
Chen-la was at first a dependency of Fu-nan but sent missions of its
own to China. In the 7th century, it succeeded Fu-nan as a kingdom,
comprising all of Cambodia and southernmost Vietnam. Its people
were the Mon-Khmer whose culture was greatly influenced by Hin-
duism. Between 705 and 707, Chen-la was divided into two states,
Wet Chen-la in the south and Dry Chen-la or Wen-tan in the north
(Chiu T’ang shu 197:2b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 332:14a). In 802, the two
parts were reunited as the Khmer Kingdom. The royal city of Angkor
Thom was completed c.900 by Yasovarman. In the 10th century, Bud-
dhism began to rival Hinduism, but the latter reasserted itself. The
great Hindu Temple of Angkor Vat can probably be dated to the first
half of the 12th century. At the end of that century, Champa was
annexed by Jayavarman VIII, at which time the Khmer Kingdom
also ruled the larger part of what now is Thailand.
The first recorded mission from Chen-la was to the Sui court in 592,
when envoys offered regional objects. In 607, envoys offered presents.
On Feb.24, 616, they offered regional objects. Emperor Yang of Sui
treated the envoys with great courtesy (Sui shu 4:11a; 82:7b; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 332:13b).
In 623, envoys from Chen-la to the T’ang court presented regional
objects (Chiu T’ang shu 1907:2b; T’ung-tien 188:71a)^118
In 625, envoys from Chen-la offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 332:14a).^119
In the 10th month (November) of 628, envoys from Chen-la attached
themselves to a mission from Lin-yi to offer presents. T’ai-tsung gave
rich presents in return (Chiu T’ang shu 197:2b; T’ang hui-yao 98:1b;
Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023).^120
(^118) According to Hsin T’ang shu 222C:3 and Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 332:13b, Chen-la
sent four missions during the period 618-700. Seven are actually recorded.
(^119) Instead of Chen-la, Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao says Wen-tan, which then was a
dependency.
(^120) T’ang hui-yao dates the mission in the 11th month (December).