Jump to content

Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/79

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
60
A Chinese Biographical Dictionary

and sent to the Court of the Khan. His captor, named 姚樞 Yao Shu, treated him kindly, and took charge of all his manuscripts; and when he reached Peking, the Khan made him offers of employment. These he steadily refused, and at length he was set at liberty. He became the head of a college; but finally he took to a wandering life, and disappeared from the scene, the date and place of his death being unknown. He was the author of many commentaries on the Classics and philosophical treatises, and also of some poetry. In 1724 his tablet was placed in the Confucian Temple.

153 Chao Hêng 趙恒 (originally 元侃). A.D. 968-1022. Third son of Chao Huang, whom he succeeded in 997 as third Emperor of the Sung dynasty. Mild, affectionate, capable, he was devoted to Taoism and superstition. He began by restoring his uncle's title, and treated his elder brother well all through his reign. In 1002 the death of the ruler of Hsia gave him an opportunity of crushing that State; but the kindly monarch contented himself with admonishing the new ruler, who submitted and was ennobled as Prince in 1006. In 1004 the Kitan Tartars invaded China; but through the courage and constancy of K'ou Chun they were forced to agree to a treaty of peace, under which, in return for a yearly subsidy, the integrity of China was secured. In 1008, chiefly owing to the report of Ting Wei that there was a large surplus in the treasury, the Emperor began a series of Imperial sacrifices which cost vast sums. Written revelations were at this time frequently received from God, and the documents were lodged in special temples. Auspicious grasses and double-eared stalks of grain poured in from the provinces, and general pardons in return for the supposed favour of Heaven became common. In 1015 a descendant of Chang Tao-ling received an honorary title. Confucius was likewise honoured, and temples to him in all the District cities were decreed in 1011. The Emperor promoted education and agriculture; and in 1014 the