817
Hu Hsü (T. ]jt^- H. ^^). A.D. 1655-1786.
One of the profoondest writers on the Canon of Changes. He
graduated as chin shih at the adranced age of fifty-eight, and at
once attracted the attention of the Emperor E'ang Hsi who
frequently consulted him on knotty points in the above-mentioned
Canon. He rose to be senior Vice President of the Board of Rites,
having been appointed in 1730 chief editor of the History of the
Ming Dynasty, In 1731 he retired on account of a spiteful
accusation that his only surviving son, Hu ^^ Chi-t'ang, who
afterwards became President of a Board, was merely an adopted son.
He was recalled to office by Ch4en Lung, who included his great
work M # ^ # ^° ^« I°>P«"<^ collection and caused him
to be canonised as ^ ^ ^ , though his rank was only that of
a Vice President.
818 Hu Hung ^ ^ (T. >tr #. H. ^ llj^). 12th cent. A.D. Son of Hu An-kuo. After studying under Yang Shih, he retired to Mt. HSng in Hunan where he spent twenty years in meditation and teaching, having for one of his disciples the famous Chang Ch4h. He addressed several very strong remonstrances to the Throne, pointing out in one of these that while honest counsellors were often punished for outspokenness, flatterers and sycophants were allowed to go unscathed. His language was always very violent, which he explained by saying that such admonitions as he had to give could not be dressed up in terms of formal ceremony. For his father's services he was appointed to a post, but did not take it up. Author of the ^ # >^ ^ ^ and the M.'BL'h ^•
819 Hu Kuang "j^ ^ (T. >fQ ^). Died A.D. 172. A native of ?? Hua-jung in Hupeh, who was left a poor orphan and began life as a menial in a public office. He managed to take his second degree; and when he presented himself at the capital for
his third degree the Emperor An Ti declared that he was the first