the turkic tribes 401the Hsi-li-pi-to-lu Qaghan, sent envoys to the T’ang court. On May
4, 633,^33 Emperor T’ai-tsung sent the Junior Herald to recognize him
and to present him with drums, banners, and 10,000 items of textiles
(Chiu T’ang shu 194B:3a, 5b-6a; T’ung-tien 199:45a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.6097;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 344:12a)
In the 10th month (Nov./Dec.) of 633, envoys of Hsi-li-pi-to-lu
offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
Hsi-li-pi-to-lu died in 634. The empire of the Western Turks was
that year divided between two rival qaghans. The western federation
controlled West Turkestan, the eastern chiefly Zungharia, the two being
divided by Issyk-Kul and the Ili River (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6110,
6118, 6142; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 344:12a). Both contested the Tarim
Basin, as did also the Chinese and Tibetans.
In the following, the sources do not usually distinguish which of the
federations sent missions to the T’ang court. In 1st month (Jan./Feb.)
of 635, one of the qaghans presented 500 horses and requested a mar-
riage. T’ai-tsung responded with a letter stamped with the imperial
seal but did not approve (Chiu T’ang shu 194B:3a; T’ung-tien 199:45a;
Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 322:12a).
In the 8th (Sep./Oct.) and 12th month (Jan./Feb., 636) of the
Chinese year 635 and in the 8th month (Sep./Oct.) of 636, Western
Turkish envoys offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In the 8th month (Sep./Oct.) of 638, envoys from one of the
qaghans offered regional objects. In the10th month (Nov./Dec.),
Western Turkish envoys offered regional objects. In 639, one of the
qaghans offered gifts, and T’ai-tsung responded with a letter stamped
with the imperial seal (Chiu T’ang shu 3:6b; 194B:4a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5024;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 344:12a).
On Aug.26, 641, T’ai-tsung sent the General of the Left Who Com-
mands the Army to recognize one of the qaghans and to present him
with drums and banners. Envoys of his rival arrived at the T’ang
court (Chiu T’ang shu 194B:4a; T’ung-tien 199:45b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
pp.6168, 6169; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 344:12a).
In the 9th month (October) of 642, at the request of Western Turk-
ish envoys, Emperor T’ai-tsung threw his support to and recognized
(^33) Tzu-chih t’ung-chien gives the date of 632, 3rd month, ting-yu.Chiu T’ang shu
194B:5b only gives the year 632. T’ung-tien and Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao have 633. Since
the 3rd month of 632 did not have the cyclical characters of ting-yu, 633, 3rd month,
ting-yu = May 4 is correct.