A representation of Byzantium on a sarcophagus in China?

(1) Curiously, Chinese annals mention “Fu-lin” (the name usually given to the Roman empire) embassies in 643, 667, 701, and possibly 719. If this is correct, this 50-year period would thus have seen more direct diplomatic contacts than the preceeding five centuries. Were the emperors trying to secure aid against the invading Arabs? There is so far no way to verify this.

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