kashmir and afghanistan 349KAPIS ́A
Kapiáa, in Chinese Chi-pin, was situated in Afghanistan and centred
on what now is Kabul.
Between 605 and 617, envoys from Kapiáa to the Sui court offered
regional objects (Sui shu 83:16a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023, Wen-hsien t’ung-
k’ao 337:45a).
In 619, envoys from Kapiáa to the T’ang court offered valuable
belts, golden chains, rock crystal cups, glass, and date seedlings (Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 337:45a).
In 637, envoys from Kapiáa presented fine horses. Emperor T’ai-
tsung paid them with silken fabrics. He sent envoys of his own with
rich gifts to the king (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 337:
45a).
In the 5th month (May/June) of 640, envoys from Kapiáa offered
regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In 642, envoys from Kapiáa presented a mongoose which could
eat snakes (Chiu T’ang shu 198:13b;Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 337:45a).
In the 5th month (May/June) of 648, envoys from Kapiáa brought
gifts, including saffron whose scent could be smelled from far away
(T’ang hui-yao 99:20b;Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5025).
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 652) of the Chinese year 651, envoys
from Kapiáa presented a mongoose. Its snout was pointed and its tail
red, and it could eat snakes. When its urine was smeared on boils,
they were immediately cured (T’ang hui-yao 99:20b; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5025).
In the 11th month (Nov./Dec.) of 653, envoys of the king of Kapiáa
offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5025).
In the 4th month (Apr./May) of 654, envoys from Kapiáa offered
gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5025).
On July 21, 661, Emperor Kao-tsung established out of Tokharia,
Ya-ta, Kapiáa, Persia, and other states eight imaginary Area Com-
mands, divided into 76 commanderies, 110 prefectures, and 126 army
headquarters, all theoretically under the An-hsi Protectorate in Kucha.
The Kapiáa Area Command was called Hsiu-hsien (Chiu T’ang shu 198:
13b;Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6324-6325; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 337:45a).
In the 3rd month (Apr./May) of 670, Kapiáa presented regional
objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).