60 continental south asia and the islands
In 980, envoys from the king of “rivijaya were received at the Sung
court (Sung shih 489:13a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 332:18a).
In the 11th month (Dec./Jan., 984) of the Chinese year 983, envoys
from the king of “rivijaya presented a rock crystal Buddha, cotton,
rhinoceros horns,^137 and aromatic drugs. In 988, and in the 12th
month (January 990) of the Chinese year 989, envoys offered regional
objects (Sung shih 5:10a; 489:13b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien
p.213;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 332:18a).
In 992, Canton informed the Sung court that when the envoy from
“rivijaya, P’u-ya-t’o-li, had reached Canton on the way home in the
previous year, he had learned that his country was under attack by
She-p’o. He had remained until the spring of 992 and then boarded a
ship to Champa. Unfavourable winds had forced the vessel to return.
The envoy now requested an imperial certification that he was not
responsible for the delays. This was done (Sung shih 489:13b).
In 1003, a mission arrived from the king of “rivijaya. He suppos-
edly informed that a Buddhist temple had been built in his country
and requested that the emperor give it a name and a bell. Emperor
Chen-tsung chose the name “Long Life Received from Heaven” and
presented a bell. The envoys were all appointed to nominal Chinese
offices (Sung shih 7:2b; 489:13b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 332:18a). This is
a most unlikely story. “rivijaya was full of Buddhist temples, and its
powerful king had no need to request a name from the Sung emperor.
More likely, the envoys had forwarded the request of a Chinese com-
munity in their state.
On Aug.22, 1008, envoys from the king of “rivijaya offered gifts
and congratulated. They received rich presents (Sung shih 7:20b; 489:
14a;Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.603; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 332:
18a).
On Aug.8, 1014, a Sung edict edict referred to the arrival of envoys
from“rivijaya (Sung hui-yao kao 10122:11b).^138
In 1017, envoys from the king of “rivijaya brought a message in
golden letters and presented real pearls, elephant tusks, Buddhist sutras
etc. They were given presents (Sung shih 8:17b; 489:14a; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 332:18a).
In 1028, envoys from the king of “rivijaya offered regional objects.
(^137) The text says teeth.
(^138) Sung shih 490:19b dates this mission 1004.