Four Regents left by the Emperor Ming Ti at his death in 472. He aided his joint Regent, Hsiao Tao-ch'dng, to slay the young prince ^ ^ Chn Til and he reyealed the plot of the other two Regents against Hsiao. Consequently, when the latter came to the throne in 479 as first ruler of the House of Gh'i, Ch'u was appointed to be Minister of Works.
498 Chü Liang . A strong man or "Samson" of old.
499 Chü Shih-ssŭ (T. ^ ffl )• I>ie^ ^D. 1659. A natiye of Ch'ang-shu in Eiangsu. He graduated as chin shih in 1616, and entered upon an o£5ciaI career. A successful Magistrate, he got into trouble oyer the impeachment of Chou Ten-ju for treason and was compelled to retire. He subsequently attached himself to the fortunes of Chu Yu-lang when the latter proclaimed himself Emperor, and underwent great hardships in that service, his wife eyen selling her jewels to raise money for paying the soldiery. When the Mauchus closed around him after the defeat at' ^ ]^ Ghao-ch'ing in Euangtung, he and ^ ^ ^j^ Chang T^ung-ch'ang resolyed to die together. They sat pledging each other in wine until seized by the enemy; and when led out to execution gravely adjusted their o£5cial robes, made obeisance towards the south, and submitted .calmly to their fate.
500 Chü Sung . A legendary personage, said to have filled the ofiSce of Recorder under the Yellow Emperor, B.C. 2598, and to have been associated with Ts'ang Chieh in the invention of the art of writing.
501 Chü Yüan (T. >f|^ gS ). Died B.C. 500. A disciple of Confucius, whom the Master reckoned to be a superior man, saying, "When good government prevails in his State, Chfi is to be found in office. When bad government prevails, he can roll his principles up and keep them in his breast.'* In A.D. 739 his tablet was placed in the Confucian Temple.
