294 east turkestan
On Apr.17, 620, envoys from Ch’ü Wen-t’ai offered gifts (Chiu T’ang
shu 1:6a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023).^3
In the 8th month (Sep./Oct.) of 624,^4 the king of Turfan, Ch’ü Wen-
t’ai , presented a male and a female dog, each 6 inches high and over
a foot long. Both were trained to lead a horse or to carry a candle in
its mouth. The breed came supposedly from Fu-lin (Syria) (Chiu T’ang
shu 198:4a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:38b).
In the intercalary month (Apr./May) of 627, Turfan envoys offered
garments of black fox fur. Emperor T’ai-tsung sent gifts to Ch’ü Wen-
t’ai’s wife, the Lady Yü-wen,^5 who in turn presented a jade plate (Chiu
T’ang shu 198:4a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023).
In the 2nd month (March) and on Nov.29 of 629, Turfan envoys
offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023).
On Jan.31, 631, the king of Turfan, Ch’ü W’en-t’ai and his wife
personally called on Emperor T’ai-tsung in Ch’ang-an and received
rich gifts. The Lady Yü-wen requested favours for her relatives, where-
upon T’ai-tsung enfeoffed the Lady Li as Princess of Ch’ang-lo (Chiu
T’ang shu 3:2a; 198:4a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.683; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
336:38b).
While Ch’ü Wen-t’ai was in the capital, T’ai-tsung decided to estab-
lish closer relations with other states of the Tarim Basin, supposedly
at their own request. For that purpose, he dispatched a high official
in the entourage of Ch’ü Wen-t’ai as his envoy. T’ai-tsung’s famous
councilor Wei Cheng protested. He quoted the precedent of Emperor
Kuang-wu (r.A.D.25-57), founder of Later Han, who had refused to
establish a protectorate over the Tarim Basin.^6 It would now as then
be a burden for China. Border trade should be enough. T’ai-tsung
accepted this and sent a messenger to overtake and bring back the
envoy (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6083-6084).
On Feb.20, 631, Ch’ü Wen-t’ai was given a banquet (Tzu-chih t’ung-
chien p.6086). The date of his return to Turfan is not recorded.
(^3) Both texts say Ch’ü Po-ya which, unless his death date of 619 in Chiu T’ang shu
is wrong, must be an error for Ch’ü Wen-t’ai.
(^4) The month is only given by Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei, but it says 6th month. Since
the preceding entry is dated 7th month and the following 9th month, 6th must be
emended to 8th.
(^5) In accordance with local custom, Wen-t’ai must have married his father’s
widow.
(^6) See my Restoration, vol.III, p.133.