known by his fancy name, as Sa Tang-p'o. Canonised as (
Chinese characters)
1786 Su Shun-ch'in (Chinese characters) (T. (Chinese characters)). A.D. 1008-1048. A
native of (Chinese characters) Tzū̆-chou in Ssū̆ich'uan, of great ambition and wide
reading, who graduated as chin shih before he was 21, and entered
the public service. In 1040 he memorialised the Throne in reference
to an earthquake which had taken place, and attracted the notice
of Fan Chung-yen, who recommended him for promotion. He rose
to high office and married the daughter of a Minister of State; but
he became inyoWed in political intrigues, and was dismissed to a
proyincial post where he died. His poetry had great vogue; and
he was also a calligraphist in the "grass" character, of which he
would throw off splendid specimens when a little elevated with wine.
1787 Su Tai (Chinese characters). 3rd and 4th cent. B.C. Brother to Su Ch'n, and
like him a politician, but of lesser magnitude. He was one day
advising the king of Chao to put an end to his ceaseless hostilities
with the Yen State. "This morning," said he, "I was crossing the
river (Chinese characters) I, when I saw a mussel open its shell to sun itself.
Immediately an oyster-catcher thrust in its bill to eat the mossel,
but the latter promptly closed its shell and held the bird fast. 'If
it doesn't rain today or tomorrow,' cried the oyster-catcher, 'there will be a dead mussel.' 'And if you don't get out of this by today
or tomorrow,' retorted the mussel, 'there will be a dead oyster-catcher.' Meanwhile, up came a fisherman, and carried off both of
them. I fear lest the Ch'in State should be our fishermen."
1788 Su T'ien-chio (Chinese characters) (T. (Chinese characters)). A.D. 1294-1852. A
native of (Chinese characters) Chên-ting in Chihli, who passed .first at a public
examination of students of the Imperial Academy and entered upon
a public career. He filled a great variety of posts, especially
distinguishing himself by his zeal and energy as Censor. He was
finally dispatched to oppose an irruption of rebels from northern
Honan, and died of exhaustion from the mental strain. In his later
