A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/An Chin-ts'ang

by Herbert A. Giles

8An Chin-ts'ang 安金藏. Died A.D. 711. A native of Loyang, who was employed in the Court of Sacrificial Worship under the Empress Wu Hou. When charges of treason were brought against the Heir Apparent, Li Tan, he loudly protested that the latter was innocent; and in token of good faith seized a knife and ripped up his own belly so that his bowels hung down to the ground. It was with difficulty that his life was saved; the Empress however was convinced of his loyalty, and Li Tan was left in peace. His name was subsequently carved upon M^ts Tai and Hua, and he was canonised as 忠.