east turkestan 297white coarse woolen stuffs, six corals, 2632 sable furs, 250 black sable
furs, 503 blue sable furs, four old sable robes, one ring of white jade,
one ring of blue-green jade, two iron mirrors, 69 jade belt buckles,
one jade belt, and aromatic drugs (Chiu Wu-tai shih 111:2a; 138:5b;
Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5036).
In the 4th month (May/June) of 962, a Uighur mission of 42 men
from Turfan^12 to the Sung court, offered regional objects (Sung shih
490:8b;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:38b).
In the 11th month (Nov./Dec) of 965, the Uighur qaghan of
Turfan^13 presented a tooth of the Buddha, opaque glass vessels, and
amber cups to the Sung court (Sung shih 490:8b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
336:38b).
On Mar.15, 971, Emperor Ching-tsung of Liao sent an envoy to
the Arslan Uighurs (Liao shih 8:2b).
On June 29, 973, the Arslan Uighurs offered gifts to the Liao court
(Liao shih 8:3b).
On Mar.26, 978, the Arslan Uighurs offered gifts to the Liao court
(Liao shih 9:1b).
On Apr.26, 981, an envoy from the king of Turfan, who had
assumed the titles of Shih-tzu wang and Assu-lan (Arslan),^14 offered
gifts to the Sung court. In the 5th month (June/July), Emperor T’ai-
tsung dispatched a Palace Servitor in response. He returned in 984
(Sung shih 4:14a; 490:8b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.186; Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:38b).
In 983, Turfan envoys to the Sung court offered gifts (Sung shih
490:8b).
(^12) Here called Hsi chou.
(^13) Here called Hsi chou.
(^14) Shih-tzu in Chinese means lion. A-ssu-lan, more commonly transliterated
A-sa-lan (with various transscriptions in Chinese characers), renders the Turkish
Arslan, also meaning lion. The ruler of Turfan therefore called himself Lion King
in 981. According to Wittfogel, Liao, p.102, this designation was used by the rulers of
Turfan, Kucha, and Kan-chou and often but not always referred to Turfan. It will
be seen that at least one Uighur ruler of Kucha did, in fact, use the title of shih-tzu
wang. I can, however, find no evidence that the qaghans of Kan-chou did the same.
The term Lion King, or at times Arslan Uighurs, without reference to any political
unit, would therefore in the present context (it was also used by the Qarluqs) seem
to refer to Kucha or Turfan. I have listed all instances under Turfan, even though
this may not always be correct.