square mouth; and he usually rode a white horse, from which he
came to be known as ^ ^||| ^]^. When the T'ang dynasty
collapsed, the first Emperor of the Later Liang dynasty ennobled
him as Prince of Min, nominally as a reward for his excellent
administration, in consequence of which the "^ ^ ^^ Kan-t'ang
Channel is said to have been miraculously opened at the mouth
of the Min river. He continued however to send annual tribute to
Tang Hsing-mi. Canonised as J^ ^, and afterwards, by his son
.W&ngLin, as flS:^^^^.
2220 Wang Shih-chêng (T. Tt ||. H, J|i. ^). A.D. 1526-1593. A native oi ^^ T'ai-ts'ang in Kiangsn, who graduated as chin ahih in 1547 and entered the public service. He espoused the cause of the patriot Yang Ghi-shfing, sending him medicines while in prison and burying his body after execution. This brought bim into disfavour with Ten Sung; and upon the unsuccessful military operations of his father, ^f^ Wang Yü, it was at Ten Sung's instigation that the latter was impeached and in 1560 put to death. Through the entreaties of himself and his brother, his father's rank was in 1667 posthumously restored to him; but he was disgusted with ofiBcial life, and wished to have done with it. He was however persuaded to take office, and rose to high rank under the Emperor Sh£n Tsung. He was ultimately promoted to be President of the Board of Punishments, but his appointment was opposed on the ground that he had previously been cashiered over some paltry business, and be retired on the plea of ill-health.
2221 Wang Shih-cheng ^ ± M (T. |§ J: . H. ^ ^fc and j^^
- li| A)- ^'^' 1634-1711. Graduated as chin ahih in 1658,
and by 1699 had risen to be President of the Board of Punishments. In 1704 he was cashiered, but in 1710 his rank was restored. He was a great traveller, being sent several times on Lnperial sacrificial
