A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Chang K'ai

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1441113A Chinese Biographical Dictionary — Chang K'aiHerbert A. Giles


76Chang K'ai 長楷 (T. 公超). A.D. 81–150. A scholar, whose lectures on the Classics attracted so much notice that the streets leading to his house were completely blocked by the horses and carriages of rich people flocking to hear him. He accordingly sought refuge on the 弘農 Hung-nung mountain, whither, he was followed by so many disciples that the place assumed the features of a market-town. In 142 he was summoned to Court, but declined to go, as he was then engaged in studying magic, at which he so far succeeded that he could raise a fog a couple of miles in diameter. He got into trouble over this, and was thrown into prison, where he remained two years, occupying himself in writing a commentary on the Canon of History. His innocence was then established, and he was released.