296 east turkestan
Wen-t’ai fell ill and died. He was succeeded by his son Chih-sheng.
The latter wrote to the attacking general, trying in vain to stop the war
by blaming it on his late father. In the 8th month (Aug./Sep.), Chih-
sheng surrendered. In the 9th month (Sep./Oct.), T’ai-tsung annexed
Turfan with the new name of Hsi commandery. It became the seat
the An-hsi Protectorate from 640 to 649 (Chiu T’ang shu 198:4b, 5a;
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6150, 6155; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:38b).
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 641) of the Chinese year 640, Ch’ü
Chih-sheng was presented as a prisoner to T’ai-tsung in the Hall
of Beholding Virtue. The emperor treated him with generosity. He
appointed him General of the Martial Guards of the Left and entitled
him duke of Chin-ch’eng commandery. His younger brother Chih-
chan was made General of the Gentlemen-of-the-Household of the
Martial Guards of the Left and entitled duke of T’ai-shan prefecture.^7
The prominent families of Turfan were transferred to China. After
T’ai-tsung had died on July 10, 649, the features of Chih-sheng were
carved in stone and placed at the emperor’s tomb (Chiu T’ang shu 3:
7a; 198:5b).
Turfan having lost its independence, there were no further missions
until the Sung dynasty. By that time, Turfan was ruled by Uighurs,
a branch of whom had moved into East Turkestan after their defeat
by the Kirghiz in 840.
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 908) of the Chinese year 907, the
Uighurs of Turfan^8 offered gifts to the Khitan court (Liao shih 70:
1b).
On Nov.10, 913, the Uighurs of Turfan^9 offered gifts to the Khitan
court (Liao shih 1:7a).
On July 14, 933, the Arslan Uighurs^10 offered gifts to the Khitan
court (Liao shih 3:6b).
On May 19, 951, an envoy from the Uighurs of Turfan^11 to the
Later Chou court offered six big and small jade lumps, nine catties
of jade and amber, 1329 pieces of white cotton fabrics, 280 pieces of
(^7) His son Ch’ung-shui was between 690 and 692 made General-in-chief of the
Martial Guards of the Left and entitled king of Chiao-ho commandery. He was the
last of his line (T’ang hui-yao 195:6a).
(^8) Here called Ho chou.
(^9) Here called Ho chou.
(^10) The “Lion Uighurs”. See note 14.
(^11) Here called Hsi chou.