Research On Tang Dynasty’s Envoys To Silla

Communication with Silla in the Tang Dynasty plays an important role in the history of communication between China and the Korean Peninsula.The main way of communication between the two sides is the exchange of visits by envoys.The envoy of Silla sent by Tang Dynasty was the executor and defender of Silla policy of Tang Dynasty,and also the supervisor of Silla policy implementation,which played a key role in the relationship between Tang Dynasty and Silla.This paper is divided into five periods,starting with the background,types,selection criteria and functions of envoys,and makes a systematic analysis of the envoys sent by Silla in the Tang Dynasty,in order to have a clearer understanding of the essence of Tang Dynasty and Silla suzerain vassal relationship.At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty,all three countries on the Korean Peninsula actively sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty,which gave a positive response.Due to historical and practical reasons,the Tang Dynasty had a close relationship with Silla,and sent envoys to Silla several times,all of whom were "scattered riding assistant ministers",inheriting the diplomatic system after the reform of Emperor Yangdi.By sending envoys to confer titles,the Tang Dynasty and Silla established a suzerain vassal relationship,which had far-reaching influence.Under the rule of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty,Koguryo challenged the authority of the Tang Dynasty,and joined Baekje to invade Silla on a large scale,which led to the establishment of an alliance between the Tang Dynasty and Silla.He actively sent envoys to communicate with Silla in the Tang Dynasty,most of whom were military attaché s,with high grades,reflecting the characteristics of military action in this period.At the same time,Silla accepted the laws and regulations of the Tang Dynasty on a large scale during this period,and the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Silla’s suzerain vassal state developed qualitatively.Influenced by the collapse of the alliance between Tang Dynasty and Silla,the relationship between the two countries fell into a low ebb,and the two sides were indifferent to the issue of diplomatic envoys.However,the Tang Dynasty still sent a conferring envoy to register King Silla.Silla did not send an envoy to thank him,but it also recognized the conferring of Tang Dynasty.This shows that both sides have always kept the bottom line,that is,recognized the suzerain-vassal relationship between Tang Dynasty and Silla,which provided a guarantee for the resumption and development of the relations between the two countries.After the king Shengde of Silla acceded to the throne,he implemented an active pro-Tang policy.At the same time,after the Tang Dynasty acceded to the throne in Tang Zhongzong,its attitude towards Silla improved,and the two sides entered a period of peaceful development,with frequent diplomatic envoys and more kinds of envoys,which showed that the relationship between Tang Dynasty and Silla was strengthened.Most of the emissaries were civil servants,and many of them were officials of the Imperial Court and the East Palace,and there were eunuchs on missions,which was related to the change of diplomatic system in the late Tang Dynasty.Some Silla Suwei and Bingong Jinshi took the initiative to act as assistants,which reflected the close and friendly relationship between Tang Dynasty and Silla.This period was in the decline of the Tang Dynasty and Silla,and Chinese historical records don’t know the situation of diplomatic envoys.However,through other materials,it can be seen that the relationship between the two countries was developing continuously during this period.The characteristics of emissaries continued from the previous period,with no obvious change.The status of envoys changed differently,reflecting the dynamic changes of the suzerain vassal relationship between Tang Dynasty and Silla.