A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Fêng Tao
573 Fêng Tao 馮道 (T. 可道). A.D. 881-954. A native of 瀛 Ying-chou in modern Chihli, who has been credited by some with the invention of block-printing. Entering the service of Liu Shou-kuang and later on of 張承業 Chang Ch'êng-yeh, he was recommended by the latter to the Prince of Chin and received a post in modern Shansi. When the second Prince of Chin mounted the throne as first Emperor of the Later T'ang dynasty, A.D. 923, Fêng Tao was appointed secretary in the Board of Revenue and member of the Han-lin College. The second Emperor, whom he served for ten years, raised him to still higher rank; yet when in the following reign 從珂 Ts'ung K'o rebelled and subsequently entered the capital, Fêng Tao quietly took service under him. And when Shih Ching-t'ang crushed Ts'ung K'o and founded the Later Chin dynasty, Fêng Tao once more entered the service of his old masters. When the Kitans put an end to the Chin dynasty, Fêng Tao presented himself at the Court of Yeh-lü Tê-kuang, second sovereign of the Liao dynasty, and positively asked for a post. He said he had no home, no army, and very little brains; a statement which appears to have appealed forcibly to the Tartar monarch, who at once appointed him Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent. This did not prevent him from quitting his new patrons at the earliest opportunity, and entering the service of the successful founder of the Later Han dynasty, A.D. 947. And again when the Hans went down before the Later Chou dynasty, Fêng Tao once more ranged himself on the side of victory and success, receiving a high post as a reward for the transfer of his services. Thus he served first and last under no less than ten sovereigns of four different Houses. He gave to himself the sobriquet of 長樂老, which finds its best equivalent in the "Vicar of Bray." Also known as 馮瀛王.