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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary

JftpaneM of Fmrmon and the PeBcadoteiy and the pajment of an enonnons indemnity.

Kuang Tsung. See (Sang) Chao Ton; (Ming) CIm Ch'aiig-lo. Kuanfi; Wu TL See Liu Hsia.

1011 K'uang Hêng 匡衡 (T. 雅圭). Isi cent RC. A Miniiier who distingaished himself nnder the Emperor Ydan Ti of the Han dynasty. Born in poTerty, he entered the serriee of a wealthy magnate as a menial and without wages, solely for the chance of being within reach of books. Having no candles to nse at night, he is said to haye bored a hole in the partition wall between his own room and a neighbour's house, and by the aid of borrowed rays to have carried on his studies with success.

1012 Kublai Khan 忽必烈 (also known as 薛禪). A.D. 1214- 1294. Fourth son of |g ^ Tuli, the brother of Ogotai Khan. He was entrusted by his brother Mangu with the gofemment of the Chinese proyinces until in 1257 his growing popularity caused his recall. At the head of one of the columns in ICangu's great invasion of China, he had just laid siege to Wu-ch'ang when the news of his brother's death reached him. Anxious to secure the throne firom his younger brother P^ £ >f^ "^ Arik-bnga, he accepted Chia Ssti-tao's offer of vassalage, tribute, and territory, and hastened to Xanadu, where he was proclaimed Emperor in 1260. Arik-bnga set up a rival sovereignty in Samarcand; but he was beaten, and surrendered in 1264. On his accession Kublai introduced a regular administration similar to the present official system; and aided by Shih T4en-tsS and other able men, he soon established his power so firmly that in 1262 he was able to resume the conquest of China. In 1273, after a siege of five years, Hsiang-yang surrendered; and in the following year Bayan crossed the Yang-tsze and proceeded victoriously eastward, until in 1276 Haugchow opened its gates and the young Sung Emperor was