310 east turkestan
On Feb.22, 1015, the Khotan State offered gifts to the Liao court
(Liao shih 15:8b).
In the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 1020) of the Chinese year 1019,
Khotan envoys to the Sung court offered jade horse trappings, a white
jade belt, barbarian (hu) brocade, dromedaries, frankincense, and uncut
gems. An edict ordered that they be repaid for the value of their goods
and additionally be presented with 200 garments, golden belts, and
100 ounces of silver vessels (Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 337:42a).
In 1025, Khotan offered gifts (Sung shih 9:6b).
In the 8th month (Aug./Sep.) of 1063, Khotan envoys offered
regional objects. In the 11th month (Nov./Dec.), the newly enthroned
Sung Emperor Ying-tsung appointed the king as Specially Advanced,
recognized him as king and qaghan of Khotan, and ordered that he
be paid 5000 strings of cash for his goods (Sung shih 490:6b-7a; Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 337:42a).
According to Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 337:42a, among the goods brought
from Khotan at this time are listed pearls, jade, corals, kingfisher’s
feathers, elephant tusks, frankincense, putchuck, opaque glass, flowered
cotton, uncut gems, dragon salt, western brocade, jade horse trappings,
castoreum,^34 star quartz, and chicken tongue aromatics.
On Mar.18, 1071, the Khotan State offered gifts (Sung shih 15:
5a).
On Mar.27, 1074, Khotan offered gifts (Sung shih 15:10b).
On May 2, 1077, Khotan offered gifts (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
ch’ang-pien p.2657).
On July 20, 1078, Khotan envoys sought to buy tea (Sung hui-yao
kao ts’e 197)
On Nov.29, 1078, Khotan offered regional objects (Sung shih 15:
21b).^35
In the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 1079, Khotan offered gifts (Sung-
hui-yao kao ts’e 197)^36
(^34) According to Webster, a creamy orange-brown substance with a strong pen-
etrating odor and bitter taste which consists of the dried perineal glands of the beaver
and their secretion or an extract of this and is used by perfumers as a fixative. The
Chinese term could also stand for civet, a similar substance obtained from the civet
cat and used in perfumes as well.
(^35) BySung hui-yao kao ts’e 197 dated Dec.5, 1078.
(^36) This and the next entry in Sung hui-yao kao are dated 1081. But the preceding
entry is dated 1078 and the following 1080. 1081 should therefore be emended to
1079.