rising; and sooner than quit his post, he finally clasped a pillar and perished in the waters.
2291 Wei Shou 魏收 (T. 伯起 and 佛助). A.D, 506-572. A native of 曲陽 Ch'ü-yang in Chihli, who is chiefly known by his History of the Wei Dynasty and some miscellaneons writings. As an official he was too quarrelsome, and as a man, too fond of pleasure. Yet he ultimately rose to high honours, and is ranked with W6n Tzŭ-shêng and Hsing Shao as the 北朝三才. Three Able Men of the Northern Dynasties. Canonised as 文貞.
2292 Wei Shu 魏舒 (T. 陽元). Died A.D. 290. A native of 任城 Jen-ch'êng in Shantung, who was brought up by his maternal aunt. When the latter was building a house, the geomancer she employed said , "This house will surely produce a worthy nephew." Thereupon Wei Shu cried out, "I will minister to the reputation of this family!" Graduating as hsiao lien he rose to notice under the Emperor W6n Ti of the Wei dynasty, who used to follow him with his eyes as he left the Imperial presence and say, "Wei Shu has a dignified bearing; he will be a leader of men." Under the Emperor Wu Ti of the Chin dynasty he actually became a Minister of State, but resigned in consequence of many portents followed by national calamities, and was ennobled as Viscount. He had a daughter, named 華存 Hua-ts'un, who studied the black art. One day she is said to have swallowed some purifying drugs, and to have gone straight up to heaven in broad daylight. Canonised as 康.
2293 Wei Shu 韋述. 7th and 8th cent. A.D. A native of Wan-nien 2293 in Shensi, who graduated as chin shih and rose to be a Historiographer under the Emperor Ming Huang of the T'ang dynasty. He and his four brothers were called by Chang Yüeh the finest trees in the forest of humanity. When the rebellion of An Lu-shan broke out, he fled to the mountains, carrying with him the State annals. He fell however into the hands of the rebels and was compelled to
