charming manners, mild and forbearing, he was nniversally Io?ed. In 527 he nursed his mother through her last illness, and his grief for her death impaired his naturally fine constitution, for it was only at the earnest solicitation of his fiiither that he consented either to eat or drink during the period of mourning. He was entrusted with the conduct of gOYemment a£Eurs from 515, and displayed extraordinary aptitude. But he never attacked any one, and showed great mercy in dealing with criminal cases. Learned men were sure of his patronage, and his palace contained a large library, called the "^ yj[ ^ . A lo?er of nature , he delighted to ramble with scholars about his beautiful park, to which he declined to add the attraction of singing-girls. When the price of grain rose in consequence of the war with Wei in 526, he li?ed on the most frugal fare; and throughout his life his charities were very large and kept secret, being distributed by trusty attendants who sought out all cases of distress. He even emptied his own wardrobe for the benefit of the poor, and spent large sums in burying the outcast dead. Against forced labour on public works he vehemently protested. To his fiiither he was most respectful, and wrote to him when he himself was almost at the last gasp, in the hope of concealing his danger. His unvarying kindness had so won the people's affection that his death was bewailed throughout the kingdom. He left a volume of essays, and edited three collections of el^^nt compositions, entitled ^ ^ , ^ ^ ^ |^» and "S" -^ ^ nS !^ W- '^^ ^ father, he was a devout Buddhist. Canonised as ^ ^ 'Jj^ -^ .
718
Hsiao Tzŭ-hsien (T. ^ Jg^ ). A.D. 489-537.
Younger brother of Hsiao TzU-yfln. A kinsman of the Imperial
lineage of the Ch4 and liang dynasties. Author of the History
of the Southern Ch^i Dynasty, A.D. 479 — 501, and of other
