the middle east 357court on Aug.25, 651 (Chiu T’ang shu 4:3a; 198:17a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5025).
In the 6th month (July/Aug.) of 655, envoys from the Arab State
offered gifts (Chiu T’ang shu 4:5b).
In the 5th month (May-June) of 681, envoys from the Arab State,
attached to a mission from Tokharia, presented horses and regional
objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026). This mission obviously came by
land.
In the 5th month (June/July) of 682, envoys from the Arab State
offered regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).
In the 3rd month (Apr./May) of 693, Arabs proposed to present a
lion. A Chinese official advised the Empress Wu that lions are meat
eaters. The lion would therefore be a great burden, since meat was
difficult to get. Her Majesty had stopped the rearing of falcons and
dogs, as well as fishing and hunting [for the imperial table]. What was
the point of being frugal for oneself and yet making ample provisions
for an animal? The empress thereupon rejected the lion (Tzu-chih
t’ung-chien p.6505).
In the 3rd month (Mar./Apr.) of 703, envoys from the Arab State
presented fine horses (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5026).
In 711, the Arab State offered regional objects (Chiu T’ang shu 198:
17a).
In 713 or soon thereafter, envoys from the Arab State were received
at the T’ang court and presented horses, a precious ornamented belt,
and other objects. The envoys refused to do obeisance, stating that in
their country not even the king (caliph) was saluted, only the Spirit of
Heaven (Allah). The Chinese high officials upbraided them sharply,
whereupon they supposedly complied (Chiu T’ang shu 198:17a-17b;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:56a).
In the 7th month (July/Aug.) of 716, envoys from the caliph Sulei-
man offered a letter, a robe embroidered with gold, and a precious
jade-adorned pitcher for sprinkling water (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5027).
In the 6th month (June/July) of 719, envoys from the Arab State
offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5027).
In the 3rd month (Mar./Apr.) of 724, Arab envoys presented horses
and baroos camphor (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5028).
In 725, an envoy from the Arab State named Su-li-man (Sulei-
man), leading a mission of 13 men, offered regional objects. He was
presented with a purple robe and silver belt and appointed to the