394 the turkic tribes
In the 7th month (Aug./Sep.) of 717, Turkish envoys presented
horses (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5027).
On Feb.10, 718, envoys from P’i-chia to the T’ang court proposed
peace and a marriage alliance, but Hsüan-tsung was slow to respond.
When Turkish envoys repeated the offer on Mar.11, 721, the emperor
replied in a letter that in the past China had bought horses from the
Turks and paid with silk. This trade had ceased because of the untrust-
worthyness and belligerence of Mo-ch’o. Should the qaghan be sincere,
the Turks and Chinese could have good fortune together. Otherwise
he did not wish envoys to come and go. It depended on the Turks
(Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6731, 6744; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:10a).
In the 7th month (July/Aug.) of 724, Turkish envoys again requested
a marriage (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6760).
In the 12th (Dec./Jan., 725) and intercalary 12th month (Jan./Feb.,
725) of the Chinese year 724, Turkish envoys were received at the
T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5028).
In 725, Hsüan-tsung sent the Acting Herald, Yüan Chen, to discuss
peace with the Turks. P’i-chia gave him a banquet. According to Yüan
Chen’s report, the qaghan complained that while the Tibetans and
Khitan had been given Chinese princesses in marriage, the Turks had
not. Yüan Chen answered:”Since the qaghan and the emperor are
like a son and a father, how could there be a marriage?”^25 Chia-p’i
observed that barbarians had been bestowed the imperial surname of Li
and yet been able to marry princesses. With this in mind, why should
it be impossible for him? Moreover, none of the princesses had been
the daughter of an emperor. He, Yüan Chen, had then promised to
use his influence for the qaghan (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:15b; T’ung-tien
198:43a;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:10a).
P’i-chia responded with an mission, led by a high official, to offer
presents. Hsüan-tsung gave a banquet and rich gifts. The envoys
departed in the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 726) of the Chinese year
725 (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:15b; T’ung-tien 198:44a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.6768;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:10b-11a). Although no formal peace
treaty was drawn up and no Chinese princess was granted, relations
between the Chinese and Turks improved.
In the 1st month (Feb./Mar.) of 726, a high-ranking Turkish envoy
was received at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5028).
(^25) I.e. such a marriage would be incest.