chin 633On Feb.10, 1149, the New Year’s Day, Southern Sung envoys
congratulated at the Chin court. They had received their orders on
Oct.1, 1148. On the same day, Chin envoys congratulated at the
Southern Sung court. They had arrived on Feb.6 (Sung shih 30:13b,
14a;Chin shih 4:13a).
On Feb.26, 1149, Southern Sung envoys to the Chin court con-
gratulated on the birthday of Hsi-tsung. They had received their orders
on Oct.1, 1148 (Sung shih 30:13b, Chin shih 4:13b).
On June 26, 1149, Chin envoys arrived at the Southern Sung
court to congratulate on the birthday of Kao-tsung^17 (Sung shih 30:
14b-15a).
On Jan.9, 1150, the self-indulgent and paranoid Emperor Hsi-tsung
of Chin was murdered, aged 31. The assassination had been planned
by his second cousin Ti-ku-nai,^18 born in 1122, who then ascended
the throne. This was the Dismissed Emperor, also known by his post-
humous title as King of Hai-ling (Chin shih 4:15a; 5:2b, 3a).
On Jan.29, 1150, Chin envoys arrived at the Southern Sung court
to congratulate on the New Year’s Day of Jan.31. These must have
been sent before Hsi-tsung’s assassination (Sung shih 30:15b).
In the 1st month (February) of 1150, the Dismissed Emperor sent the
Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Bodyguards to Southern Sung to
announce his enthronement. The envoy was received at the Southern
Sung court on Apr.2 (Sung shih 30:15b; Chin shih 5:35-4a).
On Apr.8, 1150, Southern Sung envoys to the Chin court con-
gratulated on the enthronement of the Dismissed Emperor (Sung shih
30:16a;Chin shih 5:4a).
On June 15, 1150, Chin envoys arrived at the Southern Sung court
to congratulate on the birthday of Kao-tsung^19 (Sung shih 30:16b).
On Jan.20, 1151, the New Year’s Day, Southern Sung envoys
congratulated at the Chin court. They had received their orders on
Sep.10, 1150. On the same day, Chin envoys congratulated at the
Southern Sung court. They had arrived on Jan.16 (Sung shih 30:16b,
17a;Chin shih 5:6a).
On Feb.4, 1151, Southern Sung envoys to the Chin court congratu-
lated on the birthday of the Dismissed Emperor. They had received
(^17) It fell on June 27.
(^18) Ti-ku-nai’s father was the eldest son of T’ai-tsu by a concubine (Chin shih 5:
1a; 59:8b; 69:1a; 76:12a-15a).
(^19) It fell on June 16.