Kuei-fei , and it is under this title that she is usaally known. After an unparalleled career of luxury and extravagance, she fled with the Court in 756 at the approach of the rebel An Lu-shan. But on reaching 馬嵬 Ma-wei the soldiery rose in revolt, and demanded vengeance on the family of Yang. The Emperor- was forced to order the eunuch Eao Li-shih to strangle his idolised concubine (some say she was hanged on a pear-tree), while her cousin, 'Yang Kuo-chung, and her sister, the Lady Ch'in Kuo, perished at the hands of the troops.
Yang Kung-i 楊恭懿 (T. 元甫). A.D. 1225-1294. A 2396 native of 奉元 Fêng-yüan in Shensi, who was obliged to toil for his living, with only spare moments for education. He succeeded however in acquiring a profound knowledge of the Canon of Changes and Book of Rites* In 1270 he and Hstl Hdng were summoned to Court, but he excused himself on the score of illness until the Heir Apparent began his studies. In 1275 he carried a measure by which only men of good character and well-read in the Classics were allowed to be nominated for the public examinations. In 1279 he was transferred to the Historical Department and was ordered to report on the calendar.
Yang Euo-Chung 楊國忠. Died A.D. 756. Cousin to Yang 2396 Kuei-fei. His youth was spent in riotous living; but after his cousin's rise to power he managed to secure a share of the Imperial favour, and was for a long time a person of great influence at Court. He was of course an object of flattery to all the courtiers, except to one, 張彖 Chang Huan, who said, "Men lean on Yang Kuo-chung as though he were Mt. T'ai, but I regard him as a mountain of ice." After rising to high office and being ennobled as. Duke, he was slain at the general massacre of the Yang family. His name was originally Yang 釗 Chao; the designation "Kuo-chung" was bestowed upon him by the Emperor.
