304 east turkestan
big-tailed white sheep (Sung shih 8:20b; 490:16a; Sung hui-yao kao 1076:
3a).
In the 7th month (Aug./Sept.) of 1021, a palace eunuch informed
Emperor Chen-tsung that envoys from Kucha had requested the
Tripitaka and golden images (Sung hui-yao kao 1076:3a).^24
In the 4th month (May/June) of 1024, envoys from the qaghan and
king of Kucha offered camels, horses, and frankincense (Sung shih 9:
5b;Sung hui-yao kao 1076:3a).^25
In 1025, 1029, 1030, on Feb.5, 1031, and the 6th month (July/Aug.)
of 1037, Kucha offered gifts. At the last occasion, Sung presented the
ruler with Buddhist sutras (Sung shih 9: 6b, 12a, 13b-14a; 10:10b; 490:
22b;Sung hui-yao kao 1076:3a-3b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien
p.979;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:40a).
In the 4th month (May/June) of 1040, Kucha envoys offered gifts
(Sung hui-yao kao 1076:3b).
In the 9th month (Sep./Oct.) of 1071, a Kucha envoy offered gifts
(Sung shih 490:22b; Sung hui-yao kao 1076:3b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:
40a).
On Feb.23, 1072, a Kucha envoy offered gifts (Sung shih 15:7a;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:40a).
In 1096, a great chief of Kucha, heading a mission of three men,
presented a letter and a jade Buddha (Sung shih 18:7a; 490:22b; Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:40a).
Kashgar.
Kashgar, situated in the westernmost part of the Tarim Basin, was
the oasis where, if one travelled west, the Northern and Southern Silk
Routes met. Kashgar therefore can be assigned to either of them. Its
Chinese name since Han times was Su-le.^26 No missions are recorded
from Kashgar to the Six Dynasties.
On Feb.4, 615, the New Year’s Day, Emperor Yang of Sui gave a
(^24) In 1022, a Buddhist priest from Kucha arrived at the Sung court from West-
ern India with bones of the Buddha (Sung-hui-yao 1076:3a). This was not an official
mission.
(^25) The reception of this mission is by Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.903
dated Apr.16.
(^26) The first character of the name is written by the sources in three variants.