354 the middle east
founded there by Tahir in 820, which only nominally recognized the
caliphate. The missions consequently were from various pretenders
who used the term of Persia in only a self-deluding sense.
In 661, FÊråz informed the T’ang court that he was under attack by
the Arabs and requested troops for his succor. Emperor Kao-tsung’s
response was preposterous. On July 21, 661, he established out of
Tokharia, Ya-ta, Kapiáa, Persia, and other states eight Area Com-
mands, divided into 76 commanderies, 110 prefectures, and 126 army
headquarters, all theoretically under the An-hsi Protectorate in Kucha.
Persia became the Chi-ling Area Command with FÊråz as its Military
Governor. The emperor even sent a Chinese official to organize these
new imaginary territories (Chiu T’ang shu 198:15b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
pp.6324-6325;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:53b).
In the 10th month (Oct./Nov.) of 667, Persia offered regional objects
(Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).
In the 5th month (June/July ) of 671, envoys from Persia offered
regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).
On Jan.16, 675, the king of Persia, FÊråz, having been defeated by
the Arabs, arrived as a refugee at the T’ang court. Emperor Kao-tsung
treated him well and appointed him General of the Martial Guards
of the Left^4 (Chiu T’ang shu 198:15b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6374; Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:53b). In 677, FÊråz was permitted to build his own
Zoroastrian temple in Ch’ang-an, and died soon thereafter.
In 678,^5 Kao-tsung ordered a Gentleman-in-Attendance of the Min-
istry of Personnel to lead troops, escort FÊråz’s son Ni-nieh-shih back
to Persia, and reinstall him as king of that country.^6 But in Central
Asia the Chinese expeditionary force was diverted to another purpose,
and Ni-nieh-shih continued alone. He was unable to enter Persia and
instead spent decades in Tokharia (Chiu T’ang shu 198:15b; Tzu-chih
t’ing-chien pp.6391-6392; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:53b).
In the 5th month (June/July) of 682, envoys from Persia offered
regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).
In the 7th month (Aug./Sep.) of 706, envoys from Persia offered
gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).
(^4) T’ang hui-yao 100:4a says “of the Right”.
(^5) By Tzu-chih t’ung-chien and Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao dated 679.
(^6) Chiu T’ang shu claims that it was FÊråz who was escorted back.