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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary


was a good archer and spearman, and had some knowledge of drawing. In 875 he enrolled himself as a volunteer to put down a local rebellion; and later on he inflicted a severe defeat upon Huang Ch'ao*s forces, killing his general and taking a large number of prisoners. Thenceforward his career was rapid and brilliant, until in 907 he was finally created Prince of Wu and Ytleh. He had already in 898 received a certificate, engraved on iron, of exemption from the death-penalty on nine possible occasions. In 923 the first Emperor of the Later T*ang dynasty presented him with a jade tablet and a golden seal, and for many years he reigned as a practically independent sovereign. At the instigation of An Gh'ung-hui, who thought that he was growing too powerful, the second Emperor deprived him of his rank; but after An's death this was immediately restored. Like Ssti-ma Euang in his study, Ch'ien Liu is said to have used on his campaigns a cylindrical pillow, to prevent him from sleeping, too heavily. He built an embankment against the famous '^bore*' in the Oh4en-t'ang river near Hangchow, which was his capital; and on one occasion, when the works were threatened, he is said to have driven back the waters by the discharge of a flight of arrows. Canonised as ;^ ^ .

362 Ch'ien Lo . 5th cent. A.D. A scholar who is said to have re-constructed the armillary sphere. It had been known to the ancients, but all knowledge of it had disappeared since the accession of the First Emperor.

363 Chi'en Lou Tzŭ . 5th cent. B.C. A philosopher and recluse of the Ch4 State. At his death, the shroud was found to be too short. If his head was covered , his feet stuck out; if the feet were covered, his head remained bare. Some one suggested that the shroud should be placed comerwise. **No!" cried his wife; "better the straight,

even if insuflScient, than the crooked, though enough and to spare!"