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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
383

Hsin, endeavouring to pursue his studies; but at length he was obliged to separate from his mercurial friend, who could not resist jumping up to stare at the grand carriages which passed their door. In 191, owing to the disturbed state of the empire, he withdrew to Liao-tung, where he gave himself up to study and teaching. He steadfastly refused to take o£5ce, though in 226 Ts'ao P'ei prevailed upon him to return to more cinUsed parts. He is said to have worn a hole in the wooden couch on which he sat for fifty-five years almost without moving.

1008 Kuan Shu Hsien 12th cent. B.C. Third son of WSn Wang, and younger brother to Wu Wang, who conferred upon him the Principality of Hsien in B.C. 1122. At the death of Wu Wang, he plotted to deprive his nephew of the throne, and actually went so far as to take up arms; but the rising was put down by his brother Chou Eung, and Euan Shu was executed by his orders.

1009 Kuan Yü 關羽 (T. 雲長). Died A.D. 219. A native of Hsieh-chou in Shantung, whose personal name was originally 長生. He was obliged to leave home on account of a murder he had committed, and found his way to 涿郡 Cho-chün, where in A.D. 184 he fell in with Liu Pei and Chang Fei. The three became fast friends, and swore the famous "peach-garden oath" that they would thenceforward fight side by side and live and die together. Kuan Yü and Chang Fei constituted themselves the henchmen of Liu Pei as far as public appearances went, but in private they had everything in common and even shared the same bed. Kuan Yü followed Liu Pei through all the stirring adventures of his chequered career, performing prodigies of valour, and ever remaining faithful to his oath. Being left to guard 下邳 Hsia- p'i, he was surrounded and taken prisoner by Ts'ao Ts'ao, together with the Ladies 甘 Kan and 麋 Mi, two of the wives