Diplomacy and Trade in the Chinese World, 589-1276

west turkestan 333

M$IMARGH

M§imargh, in Chinese Mi, was situated west of Kish, i.e. southwest
of Samarkand.
Between 605 and 617, M§imargh offered gifts to the Sui court (Sui
shu 83:13a).
In the 9th month (Sep./Oct.) of 659, Emperor Kao-tsung of T’ang
gave the unrealistic order to establish Chinese commanderies and
prefectures out of Kashgar, Tashkent, Kabådh§n, Kish, M§imargh,
Bukhara, Tokharia, Yi-ta, etc. (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6317).
In the 2nd month of 718, envoys from M§imargh were received
at the T’ang court. In the 4th month, (May/June), envoys from the
king of M§imargh presented dance mats and white copper^24 (Ts’e-fu
yüan-kuei p.5027)
In the 11th month (Dec./Jan., 728) of the Chinese year 727,
envoys from the king of M§imargh presented a lion (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5028).
In the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 729, envoys from M§imargh pre-
sented three barbarian (hu) twirling girls, one lion, and one leopard
(Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5028).
In the 4th month (May/June) of 730, envoys from M§imargh offered
gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5028).
In 731, the king of Samarkand requested recognition of one of his
sons as king of M§imargh. Emperor Hsüan-tsung complied (Chiu T’ang
shu 198:14a-14b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 338:47b). This would mean that at
that time M§imargh or part of it was a dependency of Samarkand.
In the 7th month (Aug./Sep.) of 744, envoys from M§imargh pre-
sented horses and valuables (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5030).
In the intercalary month (Nov./Dec.) of 746, envoys from M§imargh
were received at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5030)
In the 4th month (Apr./May) of 754, envoys from M§imargh were
received at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5031).
In the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 773) of the Chinese year 772, envoys
from M§imargh offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5031).

(^24) By Schafer, Golden Peaches, p.256, translated as brass.