324 west turkestan
regional objects (Sui shu 83:12b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 338:47b).
In 656 or 657, envoys from the king of Ferghana to the T’ang
court offered gifts. In 658, Emperor Kao-tsung created the imaginary
Hsiu-hsün Area command and appointed the king of Ferghana as its
Military Governor (Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 338:47b).
In 738, Emperor Hsüan-tsung entitled the ruler of Ferghana King
Who Upholds Civilization (Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 338:47b).
In 744, Emperor Hsüan-tsung changed the name of the state to
Ning-yüan (Pacifying the Distance), by which it henceforth appears
in the Chinese sources. He also granted the king the epithet Valued,
enfeoffed a lady of the imperial house as Princess of Ho-yi,^2 and married
her to him (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6862; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 338:47b).
In the 11th month (Dec./Jan., 750) of the Chinese year 749, envoys
from the king of Ferghana arrived at the T’ang court to congratulate
on the New Year’s Day of Jan.23, 750 (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5030).
In the 2nd month (March) of 751, envoys from the king of Ferghana
presented 22 horses, one leopard, and one “heavenly” dog. In the 9th
month (Sep./Oct.), envoys presented 20 horses and later that month
40 horses (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5030).^3
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 753) of the Chinese year 752,
envoys from Ferghana were received at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-
kuei p.5030).
In the 8th month (Sep./Oct.) of 753, envoys from Ferghana offered
gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5031).
In the 4th month (Apr./May) of 754, envoys from Ferghana were
received at the T’ang court. In the 9th month (Sep./Oct.), its king
presented barbarian (hu) horses and regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5031). A son of the king of Ferghana visited the T’ang court at one
of these two occasions and requested to be enrolled in the imperial
bodyguards. He was appointed General of the Martial Guards of the
Left (Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 338:47b).
In the 3rd month (Apr./May) of 759, an envoy from Ferghana was
received at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5031).
In the 6th (June/July), 8th (Aug./Sep.), and 12th month (Dec./Jan.,
763) of the Chinese year 762, Ferghana offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5031).
(^2) Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao says Princess of An-wei.
(^3) The mission had probably set out with 60 horses, but stragglers with 40 horses
had fallen behind.