A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Fang Kuo-chên

by Herbert A. Giles

555 Fang Kuo-chên 方國珍. Died A.D. 1374. A farmer of T'ai-chou in Kiangsu, devoted to athletic exercises. In 1319 he took to piracy, on account of a fatal quarrel with his landlord. In 1348 he submitted and received a post; but he soon returned to piracy, which he varied with periods of submission until in 1367 he became Governor of Chehkiang and Kiangsu, and was ennobled as Duke. He received a salary, but was not entrusted with any real power. His name was originally 方珍 Fang Chên (T. 國珍). He changed it to 貞 (T. 谷貞) out of respect to Chu Yüan-chang.