606 liao
for one day after the death of a mere Liao envoy. In contrast, the Liao
rulers never mourned Sung emperors, their widows, or envoys.
Due to the treaty of Shan-yüan, Sung and Liao henceforth had few
substancial issues to discuss. There were border tensions in 1042, 1044
and 1074-1076, which required an exchange of envoys. Liao acted
as a peacemaker between Sung and Hsia. It announced to Sung the
beginning, progress, and end of wars. Sung congratulated Liao on the
outbreak and end of wars. It sent some missions for the purpose of
goodwill and espionage. Liao asked for and presented imperial portraits.
Both states occasionally exchanged news on imperial activities. All
other missions, and these were the overwhelming majority, were for
ceremonial purposes and are recorded until 1101. It must be stressed
that even when a mission was concerned with ritual, other matters of
mutual interest were not neglected. For instance, when Liao envoys
congratulated on an imperial birthday in 1044, the Sung government
negotiated with them the razing of Liao border fortifications. It is also
clear that at these occasions trade was not neglected. When Jen-tsung
considered that the ritual gifts offered by Liao after the death of the
Sung Empress Dowager in 1033 had been more ample than usual, he
ordered that the envoys should receive 300 ounces of gold over and
above the value of the goods received. It follows that even ritual gifts
were objects of commerce.
According to the sources, Sung announced the enthronment of all
relevant emperors but Ying-tsung, and Liao for all but Sheng-tsung.
Sung announced the death of all emperors but Jen-tsung, Liao for
all. Sung and Liao condoled each other on the death of all emperors.
Sung declared mourning for all Liao emperors but Tao-tsung. After
the death of Sheng-tsung, Jen-tsung suspended the Sung court for
seven days. After the death of Hsing-tsung, Jen-tsung suspended the
Sung court and prohibited music. Sung sent testamentary gifts of all
emperors but Jen-tsung, Liao of all. Sung and Liao announced the
death of every Empress Dowager/Grand Empress Dowager, and both
states condoled on the deaths of all and sent testamentary gifts of all.
Sung suspended the court for seven days after the death of every Liao
Empress Dowager/Grand Empress Dowager. On the day of burial
of one Liao Empress Dowager (May 31, 1010) Chen-tsung not only
suspended court but also prohibited border towns to play music for
three days. As has been seen, there are four omissions, which concern
Ying-tsung and Jen-tsung of Sung and Sheng-tsung and Tao-tsung of
Liao. Whether this is due to negligence by the dynastic historians or