hsia 497question that the Hsia emperor humbly referred to himself as a subject.
His communication was no doubt recast at the Sung court in suitable
terms, and these were by Shen-tsung accepted as accurate.
On Apr.13, 1076, Tao-tsung of Liao sent envoys to Hsia to announce
the death of his mother, the Empress Dowager, on the preceding day
and to deliver her testamentary gifts. On July 7, Hsia envoys to the
Liao court condoled and sacrificed (Liao shih 23:4a; 115:9b-10a).
In the 6th month (July) of 1079, Hsia forces raided Chinese territory
and on Aug.29 looted a Chinese town (Sung shih 15:23b; 486:4a-4b).
On Oct.30, 1079, Hsia envoys to the Liao court offered gifts (Liao
shih 24:1b; 115:10a).
In 1081, Ping-ch’ang was supposedly persuaded by a Chinese favou-
rite to cede territory in the southern Ordos Region to the Sung. When
his mother, who controlled the government, learned about this, she
had the Chinese executed and her son temporarily imprisoned. The
Sung court considered this a rare opportunity to attack Hsia but its
armies were repeatedly defeated (Sung shih 486:4b-5b).
On Mar.19, Hsia envoys presented a captured Sung officer to the
Liao court. On July 4, other Hsia envoys offered gifts (Liao shih 24:
3b-4a).
In the 1st month (Jan./Feb.) of 1082, Liao informed the Sung court
that the ruler of Hsia, Ping-ch’ang, had been imprisoned and abused
by the faction of his mother (Sung shih 486:6a).
Fighting continued in 1082, centred on the area of present Lan-
chou in Kan-su (Sung shih 486:8b).
On July 18, 1083, Hsia envoys to the Sung court offered gifts (Sung
shih 486:8b-9a; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.3126).
The war continued throughout 1084, even though Hsia envoys to
the Sung court offered gifts on Dec.8 of that year (Sung shih 16:12b;
486:9b).
Shen-tsung died on Apr.1, 1085, whereafter Sung envoys presented
his testamentary gifts to Hsia. In the 7th month (July/Aug.), Hsia
envoys condoled at the Sung court, even though fighting still went
on (Sung shih 486:9b).
On Oct.24, 1085, Hsia envoys to the Sung court offered 100 horses
(Sung shih 17:3b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.3316).
On Oct.28, 1085, envoys from Ping-ch’ang, to the Sung court
announced that his mother had died (Liao shih 24:6b; 115:10a).
Sung sent a Gentleman-of-the Palace of the Ministry of Punish-
ments as envoy for sacrificing and an Audience Usher as envoy for