Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/735

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary


there preached and corrected the errors by which the Sacred Books were disfigured. He ultimately went to the Ch4n State (see Too Hsing) where he died before he could meet Eumarajiva who fully reciprocated his intense desire for friendship.

1887 Tao Chih or Che ^ ]% or ^ |^. A famous brigand of the Robin Hood type, contemporary with Confucius.

1888 Tao Hsin ^ ^g A.D. 580- 651. The fourth of the Eastern Patriarchs of Buddhism, surnamed ^ J|| Ssti-ma. In 592 he became the disciple of Sftng Ts^an, and nine years later was appointed as his successor. In his zeal for religion he is said never to have lain down for sixty years. In 617 he and his disciples, by inducing the townsfolk to recite the Prajna Paramita Sutra, raised the siege of Ohi-chou in Shansi, the rebels being terrified by the appearance of immortal warriors on the battlements. In 624 he returned to ^ Ch'i in Hupeh, where he met the fifth Patriarch, HuQg Jen. In 643, after thrice declining Imperial invitations to the capital^ he was threatened with death if he persisted in his refusal. Thereupon he calmly offered his neck to the envoy; and when this was reported to the Emperor, he was finally left in peace.

1889 Tao Kuang ^5fe. A.D. 1781-1850. The title of the reign of ^ (oi* ^) ^ Mien-ning, second son of the Emperor Ghia Ch'ing. He succeeded in 1820, unfitted by the secluded life he had led to face the problems of government; and though he did his best to purify the Court, his natural indolence stood in the way of any real reform. In 1825 the Grand Canal was blocked and tribute-rice was sent by sea. Risings in Eashgaria, Hainan, Formofla, and Euangtung, cost vast sums; and in 1834 there was a deficit of Tls. ' 34,000,000. The abolition of the East India Company's privileges in China in 1834 led to friction between the CaDtoo officials and the new Superintendents of Trade; and the combined ignorance and patriotic zeal of Lin Ts6-hsd ultimately brought on