Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/345

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary

gave birth to Huan HsfLan, a bright "glory" filling the room at the time; in consequence of which the child received the pet name of ^ ^ Divine Jewel. He had two narses to carry him, the women alleging that he was twice as heavy as an ordinary baby. His father idolised him, and made him his heir. As he grew up he began to display remarkable talent, of which he himself was fnUy conscious; and at first there was a disinclination at Court to give him employment. At the age of 28 he was placed upon the establishment of the Heir Apparent, but soon threw up the post in disgust. Later on he became mixed up in the schemes of Wang Eno-pao; and in 402, after the death of Wang Eung, he was appointed Governor of Ghing-chou. Then followed his contest with Prince 7^ j^ Tflan Hsien, who ruled over the metropolitan province (see SsH-ma Tao^Uii)^ in the course of which he surprised Nanking, slew his opponents, and in 403 mounted the throne as Emperor of Gh'u. A year later he was attacked by Liu Y^, and overwhelmed. Struck by an arrow, which his son pulled out of the wound, and pursued by an officer with a drawn sword, he took the jade pin from his cap of State and offered it to the latter, saying, "Would you kill the Son of Heaven?" "Nay," replied the officer, suiting his action to the word, "but I will slay those who rebel against him!"

838 Huan Huo . A man of the Chin dynasty, famous for his skill in teaching mynahs to talk. One of his birds was imitating the voices of the various guests at a party, when finding itself unable to reproduce the accent of a gentleman who spoke as though he had a cold, the clever bird put its head inside a jar and at once made the imitation complete.

839 Huan I (T. H. ). 4th cent. A.D. An official who brought himself into notice by aiding in the

defeat of Fu Ghien (2), for which services he was ennobled as