570 liao
sent envoys to the Liao court to announce the death of her husband
(Sung shih 9:1b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 346:22b).
On Mar.31, 1022, Sung sent envoys with Chen-tsung’s testamentary
gifts to Liao. This mission was received at the Liao court on June 28^88
(Sung shih 9:1b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 346:22b).
On Apr.11, 1022, Sheng-tsung sent the Inspector-general to the
Sung court to sacrifice and the Assistant Commissioner for Libations
to condole with the Empress Dowager. This mission was received at
the Sung court on July 20. It also presented a letter from the Liao
Empress to the Sung Empress Dowager and offered such things as
pearls and inferior jade (Sung shih 9:2a;Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 346:22b;
Liao-shih16:6b).
On Apr.12, 1022, Sheng-tsung sent the Bearer of the Gilded Mace
and a member of the Office of Presentations to condole with the new
ruler of Sung (Liao shih 16:6b).
On May 16, 1022, Sung sent envoys to the Liao court to announce
the ascension of Jen-tsung (Sung shih 9:2a).
In the 6th month (July), of 1022, Sung sent envoys to the Liao
court to present drinking and eating vessels of tortoise shell adorned
with gold, elephant tusks, carnelian cups, tea vessels and drinking
cups [of porcelain], five robes, objects of rhinoceros horn, golden
belts, musical instruments of tortoise shell adorned with gold, horse
trapping of carnelian adorned with gold, jade horse whips, and 3000
bolts of brocade as Chen-tsung’s testamentary gifts (Sung hui-yao kao
5257:50a-50b).
On Sep.3, 1022, Sung sent envoys to congratulate Sheng-tsung
and his empress on their birthdays^89 and on the New Year’s Day of
Jan.25, 1023. “The custom of congratulating the Liao empresses on
their birthdays began from this”. The birthday mission arrived on
Jan.13, 1023 (Sung shih 9:2b; Liao shih 16:7b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
ch’ang-pienp.882).
On Sep.30, 1022, the Sung court ordered that the Liao emperors
should henceforth be annually presented with garments and golden
belts (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.882).
On Oct.24, 1022, Sheng-tsung sent two Masters of Writing to con-
(^88) Correcting 6th month to 5th.
(^89) Sheng-tsung’s birthday fell on Mar.24, 1023. The birthdate of his empress is
not known.