566 liao
court announced that their state would attack Koryo (Wen-hsien t’ung-
k’ao 346:22a).
On Dec.12, 1009, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of Chen-tsung^67 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
ch’ang-pienp.638).
On Dec.29, 1009, the Empress Dowager of Liao, mother of Sheng-
tsung, died, aged 57. On Dec.30, Sheng-tsung sent envoys to the
Sung court to announce her death. Chen-tsung suspended the court
for seven days. On Jan.16, 1010, Sheng-tsung cancelled his birthday
celebrations^68 and on the New Year Day of Jan.18 he suspended
the court (Liao shih 14:7b; 15:1a; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien
pp.638-639).
On Feb.22, 1010, Sung envoys condoled and sacrificed at the Liao
court and contributed 10,000 bolts of silk toward the funeral expenses.
Subsequently, Sheng-tsung sent the Supreme General of the Dragon
Tiger Guards of the Left to the Sung court with a testamentary letter
of the Empress Dowager and jade bracelets, amber necklaces, vessels
of carnelian, jugs of rhinoceros horn and jade, and fine horses etc. as
testamentary gifts. Thereafter, he dispatched a Military Commissioner
and the Supreme General of the Metropolitan Guard of the Left to
thank for the condolence and sacrifice. Chen-tsung sent two generals
to the Liao court to present garments, belts with veined rhinoceros
horn, bows and arrows, and fine horses to thank for the testamentary
gifts (Sung hui-yao kao 5257:42a-42b; Liao shih 15:1a; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-
chien ch’ang-pien p.639;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 346:21b).
On May 31, 1010, the Empress Dowager of Liao was buried in the
presence of Sung envoys. Chen-tsung suspended the Sung court on
that day and prohibited border towns from playing music for three
days (Liao shih 15:1b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.647).
On Oct.1, 1010, Sheng-tsung sent envoys to the Sung court to
announce that he had personally taken command of an army against
Koryo. This mission was received at the Sung court on Dec.14 (Sung
hui-yao kao 5257:42b; Liao shih 15:1b).
On Dec.18, 1010, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to congratu-
late on the birthday of Chen-tsung^69 (Sung hui-yao kao 5257:43a).
On Feb.1, 1011, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
(^67) It fell on Dec.20.
(^68) They would have fallen on Apr.17.
(^69) It fell on Jan.8, 1011.