1472—1528. A native of Yü-yao in Chehkiang, who graduated as
chin shih in 1499 and entered upon a public career. But he soon
incurred the displeasure of the then powerful(Chinese characters) Liu Chin,
and was actually bambooed and dismissed to a petty office in
Kueichou. There he set to work to civilise the savages until the
death of Liu Chin in 1510, when he was recalled and appointed
to several high posts. In 1519 he subdued an insurrection in Eiangsi
(see Ch'ên Hao), and in 1527 he conducted a successful campaign
against the wild tribes of Kuangsi, for which services he was made
President of the Board of War and ennobled as Earl. The envy
and malice of rivals, coupled with ill-health, caused him to resign,
but he died before he reached home. He achieved considerable
distinction as a speculative philosopher, and his literary remains,
including poems, essays etc., have been published under the title
of (
Chinese characters). He was canonised as (
Chinese characters) , and in 1584 his
tablet was placed in the Confucian Temple.
2225 Wang Shu (Chinese characters). The fabled charioteer of the moon.
2226 Wang Shu (Chinese characters) (T. (
Chinese characters)). A.D. 1416-1508. A native of
(
Chinese characters) San-yuan in Shensi, who graduated as chin shih in 1448
and rose to the highest offices of State. His career however was
a chequered one. His protests against the outrages of eunuch commissions which were sent out to obtain flowers, animals, and
rarities for the palace, and against the favour shown is Buddhism,
coupled with his defence of innocent officials, gained him a great
name, expressed in the popular saying that "the two capitals have
a dozen Boards but only one Wang Shu." In 1486 the Emperor,
backed by Wang's numerous and influential foes, ordered him to
retire; but in 1488 the new monarch Hsiao Tsung recalled him as
President of the Board of Civil Office. Liu Chi, fearing him as a
rival, secretly checked his schemes of reform; the Emperor however,
in spite of his strong remonstrance against the employment of