official in the Chêng State, and that it was he, and not Tzŭ Ch‘an, who lent his carriage to convey people over its rivers, an act of condescension censured by Mencius.
398 Ching Fang 京房 (T. 君明). 1st cent. B.C. A disciple of 焦贛 Chiao Kung (T. 延壽), under whom he made a deep study of the Canon of Changes. The latter was delighted with his progress, but predicted that his learning would lead to his destruction. He was also distinguished as a fine musician. In B.C. 51 he graduated in the second degree, and soon attracted the notice of the Emperor by his skill in foretelling the future, and was summoned to Court. He then tried to introduce a scheme for periodical examinations of officials; but it was rejected by the Ministers of State, who hated him and who persuaded the Emperor to send him as Governor to 魏郡 Wei-chün (parts of Chihli and Honan). There he was allowed to carry his scheme into execution. Shortly afterwards, however, he announced that a great inundation was imminent; and when this came to pass, he was thrown into prison and put to death at the age of forty-one. His real name was 李 Li, changed by himself to Ching.
399 Ching K'o 荆軻. Died B.C. 227. The Ch‘in State baring claimed from the Ten State the rendition of a deserter, together with the surrender of a slice of territory as a fine, Prince 丹 Tan of Yen induced Ching K‘o, a bold adventurer of the day, to undertake the assassination of the ruler of Ch‘in, who was later on to become famous as the "First Emperor." Ching K‘o was sent on a pretended mission to Ch4n to tender the humble allegiance of the Yen State. He carried with him a roll-map of Yen, in which lay concealed a sword. Prince Tan with a few friends escorts Ching K‘o as far as the river 易 I, where the latter as he bade farewell uttered the following lines:—
