the tang-hsiang 473The Tang-hsiang.
The Tang-hsiang, like the Tibetans, were Tanguts. Their original
habitat was to the southeast of Ch’ing-hai or Kokonor. They were
not united but splintered into tribal groups under chiefs, hostile to
each other and the Tibetans.
In 596, sons and younger brothers of Tang-hsiang chiefs were
received at the Sui court (Pei shih 96:22a).
On May 17, 609, Tang-hsiang offered regional objects to Emperor
Yang of Sui while he was in the northwest (Sui shu 3:13a; Pei-shih 12:
13a).
In the 11th month (Dec./Jan., 620) of the Chinese year 619,
Tang-hsiang envoys to the T’ang court offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5032).
In the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 627) of the Chinese year 626, Tang-
hsiang envoys to the T’ang court offered gifts (Chiu T’ang shu 2:8a;
Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023).
From 627 or soon thereafter, the Tang-hsiang of the Snowy Moun-
tain frequently offered gifts to the T’ang court (T’ang hui-yao 98:19a).
In the 11th month (Nov./Dec.) of 631, Tang-hsiang were received
at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023).^1
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 633) of the Chinese year 632,^2 Tang-
hsiang offered gifts to the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In 635, the Tibetans defeated the Tang-hsiang (Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
p.6139). Due to this and subsequent attacks, the Tang-hsiang were
dislodged from their homeland and gradually migrated into Chinese
territories. They settled in an area extending from Kan-su to Sui-yüan,
were mistreated by the Chinese officials, and retaliated by raiding and
looting. When at the end of T’ang the government became more and
more weakened, the Tang-hsiang began a slow territorial expansion.
During the Five Dynasties, they became independent.
(^1) According to T’ang hui-yao 98:19a, a Tang-hsiang chief called himself King
Wo Esteems Goodness and offered gifts to the T’ang court. This may be the same
mission.
(^2) This is the second entry for 632 in Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei preceded by “11th month”.
I emend it to 12th month.