chin 639by a seventh-generation descendant of T’ai-tsu, born in 1127. This
was Emperor Hsiao-tsung. In the 7th month (Aug./Sep.), he sent
envoys to the Chin court to announce his ascension (Sung shih 32:
15a; 33:1a, 5a
On Dec.15, 1163, Hsiao-tsung sent envoys to negotiate with the
Chin court. On Sep.17, 1164, he sent Wei Ch’i for the same purpose.
Wei Ch’i was detained at the Huai River because of the war and was
not able to cross it until Jan.21, 1165. Meanwhile, another Southern
Sung envoy had been sent on Jan.9, and Chin envoys had arrived at
the Southern Sung court on Jan.10. On Feb.21, 1165, Wei Ch’i was
finally received at the Chin court (Sung shih 33:12a; 15a, 15b, 17b; 35:
21a; 36:2a; Chin shih 6:15a-15b).
These negotiations led to a peace treaty in 1165 in which the border
between the two states and the tribute rendered by Southern Sung
remained the same as before, but in which the Chin made certain
concessions. In communications, the Southern Sung emperor still had
to refer to himself by his given name. However, his status was no
longer that of a subject but that of a nephew, and instead of tribute
Chin accepted the euphemism of payment.
On Mar.16, 1165, the Vice Inspector of the Left and other Southern
Sung envoys were received at the Chin court (Chin shih 6:15b).
On Apr.13, 1165,^32 Southern Sung envoys to the Chin court con-
gratulated on the birthday of Shih-tsung. The envoys had received
their orders in the 12th month (Jan.Feb., 1165) of the Chinese year
1164 (Sung shih 33:18a; Chin shih 6:15b).
On June 2, 1165, Hsiao-tsung received Chin envoys in audience
(Sung shih 33:19a).
On July 8, 1165, Hsiao-tsung sent envoys to Chin to congratulate
Shih-tsung on his honoured title. These were received at the Chin
court on Sep.23 (Sung shih 33:19b; Chin shih 6:16a).
On Nov.26, 1165, a Master of Writing of the Ministry of Personnel
and other Chin envoys arrived at the Southern Sung court to con-
gratulate on the birthday of Hsiao-tsung.^33 They had received their
orders on Oct.7 (Sung shih 33:21a; Chin shih 6:16a).
(^32) Chin shih has the cyclical characters of mou-shen, but these did not occur in the
3rd month. However, Shih-tsung’s birthday in 1165 fell on Apr.13.
(^33) It fell on Nov.27.