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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary


1489 Ma Yin ,g| |$ (T. ^ g ). A.D. 930. A simple carpenter, who raised himself towards the close of the T^ang dynasty to be Gt)yemor of Hnnan and part of Kuangsi. Ghu W£n, the founder of the Liang dynasty, named him Prince of Ch'a and made overtures to him; but he remained faithful to the old dynasty, and in 916 sent a tribute mission to Li Ts^un-hsU who in 924 appointed him king of the Gh^u State. He was succeeded by his five sons, the last two of whom were worthless debauchees; and in the disorder which ensued the State came to an end in 950, divided between the rival States of Southern Han and Southern T*ang.

1490 Ma Yuan || :^ (T. ^*^). B.C, 14 -A.D. 49. A native of Mou-ling in Shensi, whose great grandfather had been executed for treason; consequently neither his grandfather nor his father had held office. He began his public career under the rdgime of Wang Mang the Usurper, but stimulated by a boundless ambition, ere long took up arms against him. After Wang Mang's death he joined Wei Hsiao; and when the latter sent his son as hostage to the Emperor Euang Wu, Ma Yiian accompanied him to Lo-yang. When Wei Hsiao finally threw off his allegiance and the Emperor proceeded to attack him, Ma Yilan afforded valuable aid by tracing out on a large tray of rice the configuration of the country, and explaining to the assembled generals what road they should take. The result was a severe defeat inflicted upon Wei Hsiao. In A.D. 35 he was appointed Qovernor of a part of modern Kansuh , whence he led an army into Tongking and put down an attempt to shake off the Chinese yoke. The rising was headed by two sisters named ^ #J Chdng Ts« and ^ ^ Ch6ng i^rh, both of whom were captured and put to death. For these services he was honoured with the title of ^ ^ ^ ^ the Wave-quelling Commander (see Lu Po-tS) and ennobled as Marquis, and his daughter (see Ma Hon) was given in marriage to the Heir Apparent. In A.D.