Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/713

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary

under the Emperor Ch^u Tsung. In 1008 there was a pretended revelation from God in the form of a letter, which the Emperor and his Court regarded with profound awe. But San Shih said, '^I have heard that God does not even speak {vide fjjj ^, ch. XIX); how then should He write a letter?*' Canonised as

1817 Sun Shih-i ^ ± IS (T. ^ */p • H. H |1| )• A.D. 1720-1796. A native of j^ ^ Jen-ho in Chehkiang, who as a youth was devoted to study and is said to have kept off drowsiness by knocking his head against the wall. Graduating as chin shih in 1761, he was secretary to Fu-hSng duriug bis Barmese expedition, and in 1770 had risen to be Treasurer of Euangsi, when he was cashiered for want of energy, and orders were given to confiscate his property. Struck with the fact that nothing was found to confiscate, the Emperor re-employed him, and in 1788, as Viceroy of the Two Kuang, he invaded Annam and replaced on the throne ^ ^ ]j^ Li Wei-ch*i, who had been driven out by his Minister ^ ^ Y^au Hui. No sooner had the Chinese withdrawn than another revolution took place, and it was ultimately decided to leave Annam alone. He was then sent to Sstlch'uan to see to the supplies of the army fighting in Tibet, into which country he advanced over terrible mountains as far as Chamdo. 'In 1792, on the conclusion of the war with Nepaul , the suppression of the White Lily rebellion occupied his last days. His physical powers were marvellous, and be required hardly any sleep. He was a great collector of ancient inscriptions. Ennobled as Duke, and canonised as 3C^*

1818 Snn-shu Ao -^ ;|t ^- 6th cent. B.C. A native of the Ch'u State, who thrice became Prime Minister without feeling joy and thrice suffered dismissal without feeling resentment, conscious that his elevation was due to his own merit and his degradation to the faults of others.

1819 Sun Shu-jan -^ ;#t ^ . 3rd cent. A.D. A native of |j| ^