hsia 491On Feb.16, 1045, Hsia envoys to the Liao court offered falcons
(Liao shih 19:7a).
On Feb.24, 1045, envoys from Yüan-hao arrived at the Sung court
to congratulate on the New Year’s Day for the first time during his
reign (Sung shih 11:9a-9b).^16
On Apr.12, 1045, Sung envoys to the Liao court congratulated on
the conclusion of the war against Hsia (Liao shih 19:7a).
On Apr.24, 1045, envoys from Yüan-hao arrived at the Sung court
to congratulate the birthday of Jen-tsung (Sung shih 11:10a).^17
In the intercalary 5th month (June/July) of 1045, Hsia envoys to
the Liao court offered gifts (Liao shih 19:7a).
On July 8, 1045, envoys from Yüan-hao to the Sung court thanked
for his recognition (Sung shih 11:10a).
In the 6th month (July/Aug.) of 1045, Hsia envoys were received
at the Liao court (Liao shih 70:18a).
In the 2nd month (Mar./Apr.) of 1048, Hsia informed the Sung
and Liao courts that Li Yüan-hao had died (possibly assassinated).
Yüan-hao was 46 years old. During his reign, the Hsia State had been
expanded to the western end of the Kan-su Corridor and adjoining
parts of Mongolia in the north. His temple name was Ching-tsung.
Jen-tsung of Sung sent a Supernumerary Gentleman of the Bureau of
Sacrifices of the Masters of Writing to be the envoy for sacrifing and an
Inpector of a subcommandery to be envoy for condoling. He presented
1000 bolts of pongee, 500 pieces of cotton, 100 sheep, 100 bushels of
flour, 100 bushels of rice, and 100 bottles of wine. At the funeral, he
presented another 1,500 bolts of pongee. Hsing-tsung of Liao sent the
Commissioner of the Yung-hsing Palace, the Grand Guardian of the
Protective Guards of the Right, and the Junior Inspector of the Court
Architect to condole. Yüan-hao was succeeded by his son Liang-tso,
who had been born on Mar.5, 1047, and hence was a child (Sung shih
11:14a; 485:21b-22a; Liao shih 20:2a; 115:8b).
On Apr.23, 1048, Hsia envoys to the Liao court presented Yüan-
hao’s testamentary gifts (Liao shih 20:2a; 115:8b).
(^16) The New Year’s Day of 1045 fell on Jan.21. It is not clear whether the envoys
congratulated belatedly or whether they stayed until the next New Year on Feb.9,
1046.
(^17) As mentioned before, imperial birthdays were celebrated on a specified day
of the Chinese lunar calendar. This made them movable feasts when translated to
the solar calendar. Jen-tsung was born on the 14th day of the 4th month (Sung shih
9:1a), which in 1045 fell on May 3.