Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/564

This page needs to be proofread.
A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
545


Lu Huan j^ ^ . 8th cent. A.D. A stern and upright ofiScial 1416 of the T^ang dynasty. In A.D. 742 he was Governor of Nan-hai in Eaangtang, having been sent thither to reform the administration which had become very corrupt under his two predecessors, both of whom had been cashiered for accepting bribes. Under his pure rule, *'the filthy harpies of the Taw folded their hands" and order was soon restored. He afterwards rose to be President of a Board. Lu Hui-neng j^ ^ ^ . A.D. 637-712. The sixth and last 1417 of the Eastern Patriarchs of Buddhism. He was born at Hsin-chou in Euangtung, and is said to have remained in the womb six years, and to have refused his mother's milk, being fed miraculously by angels. After having been invested with the robe and the bowl by Hung Jen, he had to go into hiding for some years. In 676 he appeared at a temple at Canton , and devoted himself to teaching the principles of Bddhidharma. In 705 the Emperor invited him to Court, but he excused himself on the plea of ill-health. He was buried at his native place, where he had caused a dagoba to be prepared for his remains. He rebuked his disciples for weeping over him I and declined to nominate a successor in the Patriarchate, as the doctrine was already well established in China. Lu Hung J^y§ (T. lll^). 8th cent. A.D. A scholar and 1418 recluse who lived at Lo-yang, and was distinguished for his knowledge of the seal character. He resisted several offers of employment in the public service; and when at length he appeared at Court he refused to perform obeisance, on the ground that loyalty and sincerity are better than prostrations. He was allowed to return to his home , which he called ^ ^ Perfect Bliss , and there devoted himself to the instruction of some 500 pupils. The Emperor gave him a yearly pension, with leave to submit his views on political questions, and at his death contributed 10,000 cash towards his funeral expenses.

85