498 hsia
condoling. On Dec.25, 1085, envoys from Ping-ch’ang to the Sung
court presented horses and a white camel as his mother’s testamentary
gifts (Sung shih 17:4a-4b; 486:9b).
On Mar.9, 1086, Hsia envoys to the Sung court offered gifts. On
June 17, envoys congratulated on the enhronement of Emperor Che-
tsung on Apr.1^20 (Sung shih 17:5a, 6a).
On Aug.19, 1086, Hsia requested Sung to cede territory, which at
the advice of Ssu-ma Kuang was rejected (Sung shih 486:10a-10b; Hsü
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.3603).
On Aug.21, 1086, it became known at the Sung court that Li
Ping-ch’ang had died, aged 36. His temple name was Hui-tsung. He
was succeed by his eldest son, the 3 year-old Ch’ien-shun (Sung shih
17:6b; 486:10b).
On Aug.26, 1086, Hsia envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of Che-tsung’s grandmother, the Grand
Empress Dowager (Sung shih 17:6b).^21
On Nov.16, 1086, eight Hsia envoys to the Sung court officially
announced the death of Ping-ch’ang. The Chinese government
requested a return of the territory and people seized by Hsia since 1081
(Sung shih 17:7a; 486:10b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.3667).
On Nov.24, 1086, Sung sent a Supernumerary Gentleman of the
Treasury Bureau as envoy for sacrificing and the Commissioner of
the Imperial Larder as envoy for condoling to Hsia (Sung shih 17:7a;
486:10b).
In the 10th month (Nov./Dec.) of 1086, Hsia envoys arrived at
the Sung court to present 30 horses and 20 camels on the birthday
of Che-tsung^22 (Sung shih 486:10b).
On Jan.16, 1087, Hsia envoys arrived at the Sung court for the
New Year congratulations of Feb.6 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien
p.3716).
(^20) He was born on Jan.4, 1076, and hence a child.
(^21) It is not explicitly stated in the sources that the K’un-ch’eng Festival was the
birthday of the Grand Empress Dowager. But since Che-tsung’s birthday was the
Hsing-lung chieh, there is no other possibility. Che-tsung did not have an empress
until 1092. In 1086, the birthday of the Grand Empress Dowager fell on Aug.27.
This embassy must have set out before the death of Ping-ch’ang, since it did not
announce it.
(^22) It fell on Jan.14, 1087. According to Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.3706,
the gifts were offered on Jan.16.