588 liao
portrait of the emperor.^158 Jen-tsung sent an envoy in response (Sung
shih 12:12a; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1707).
On May 16, 1057, envoys from the Liao [Grand] Empress Dowager
and from Tao-tsung arrived at the Sung court to congratulate on the
birthday of Jen-tsung^159 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.1708).
On Oct.27, 1057, Liao envoys to the Sung court once more sought
a portrait of the emperor (Sung shih 12:13a).
On Nov.1, 1057, Jen-tsung sent an envoy to the Liao court (Sung
shih 12:13a).
On Jan.22, 1058, envoys from the Liao [Grand] Empress Dowager
and from Tao-tsung arrived at the Sung court to congratulate on
the New Year’s Day of Jan.27^160 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien
p.1718).
On Jan.24, 1058, the Liao [Grand] Empress Dowager died. On
Jan.27, Tao-tsung sent envoys to announce her death to the Sung
court. They were received on Feb.27. Jen-tsung suspended the court
for seven days (Sung shih 12:13a; Liao shih 21:5a).
On Jan.28, 1058, Sung envoys to the Liao court presented a portrait
of Jen-tsung (Liao shih 21:5a). These envoys had obviously left K’ai-
feng before the death of the Grand Empress Dowager had become
known.
On May 6, 1058, Liao envoys arrived at the Sung court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of Jen-tsung^161 (Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien
ch’ang-pienp.1721).
On May 22, 1058, Sung envoys to the Liao court condoled and
sacrificed (Sung shih 12:13a; Liao shih 21:5a).^162
On June 18, 1058, Liao envoys to the Sung court presented the tes-
tamentary gifts of the Grand Empress Dowager (Sung shih 12:13b).
On Oct.11, 1058, Liao envoys to the Sung court thanked for the
condolence (Sung shih 12:14a).
In the intercalary month (Jan./Feb., 1059) of the Chinese year 1058,
a Liao envoy was received at the Sung court (Sung shih 12:14b).
On Feb.10, 1059, envoys from the Liao Empress Dowager^163 and
(^158) By Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien expressed as the “divine countenance”.
(^159) It fell on May 20.
(^160) Unbeknownst to Sung and the envoys, the Grand Empress Dowager was
already dead on Jan.27.
(^161) It fell on May 9.
(^162) The date is according to Liao shih.
(^163) I.e. Hsing-tsung’s widow and Tao-tsung’s mother.