After murdering her mother-in-law and the Heir Presumptive, she
was herself slain in 300 by Ssū̆-ma Lun, Prince of Chao, who for
a short time usurped the throne. The Emperor was dragged about
by contending Princes, until at last he was poisoned. Canonised as (
Chinese characters)
1753 Ssū̆-ma Hsiang-ju (Chinese characters) (T. (Chinese characters)) Died B.C. 117.
A native of Ch'êng-tu in Ssū̆ich'uan. In his youth he was fond
of books and sword-play, and early distinguished himself as a
poet. His personal name was originally (Chinese characters) Puppy, and was
changed by him to Hsiang-ju, from his admiration of the cha-
racter of Lin Hsiang-ju. After holding office for a short time
under the Emperor Chiug Ti, who reigned B.C. 156 — 140, he
joined the establishment of Prince (Chinese characters) Hsiao of Liang, but was
ere long compelled by ill-health to resign his post; and the Prince
dying about the same time, he was left almost penniless. Wandering
homewards, he reached Lin-chiung, where he was hospitably received
by the Magistrate (Chinese characters) Wang Chi, and introduced to a wealthy
man , named (Chinese characters) Cho Wang-sun , who entertained him at
a banquet. When the wine had circulated freely, Ss{{subst:u-brever}}-ma began to
play and sing; by which he so captivated Cho's daughter (Chinese characters)
WSn-chun, a young widow, that she left her father's house that
very night and threw herself upon Ssū̆-ma's protection. The pair
fled to Ch'êSng-tu; but having nothing to live upon, they returned
to Lin-chiung and set up a small wine-shop, in which she served
the customers while he, dressed in the short drawers of a coolie,
washed the cups. His father-in-law, unable to bear the shame of
this, gave them a large sum of money, with which they went back
again to Ch^êng-tu and lived in affluence. Meanwhile the &me of
Ssû-ma as a poet reached the Emperor Wu Ti, who was fascinated
by his (Chinese characters). The author was summoned to Court and appointed
to high office, from which he was dismissed for receiving bribes,
