Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/892

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
873


captured by surprise the year before. He declined however to risk entering into rivalry with Wang Tao over the central administration, and returned to his post. Tradition says that he lighted a rhinoceros horn, and by its glar^ succeeded in descrying the water- bogies and other monsters in a river, shortly after which he was taken suddenly ill and died. Canonised as J^ ;gi^« 

Wen-hsiang ;^|^. Died A.D. 1875. A Manchu, who in 1861 2304 was Senior Vice President of the Board of Revenue. He was then appointed to the newly-formed Tsung-li Yam£n, a department for the regulation of intercourse with Western nations. In 1865 — 66 he dealt successfully with the mounted brigands of F£ng-t4en, and in 1872 he became a Grand Secretary and member of the Grand Council. He was very mild-mannered and dignified, and a great favourite with foreigners.

Wen HstLan Ti. See Kao Yang. Wen Eung. See Eao Wei.

Wen Ti. See (Han) Liu Heng; (Wei) Ts'ao F'ei; (E. Sung) Liu I-lung; (Ch'fin) Ch'en Ch'ien; (W. Wei) Ytlan Fao-ohil; (Sui) Yang Chien.

Wen T*l.jen J^ f| ^T (T. ^ ^). Died A.D. 1638. A native 2305 <>^ i^ @ Wu-ch'^ng in Chehkiang, who graduated as chin ahih in 1598 and had risen to be President of the Board of Rites when the last Ming Emperor succeeded to the throne. A deep schemer, he so far won the suspicious Emperor's confidence that, in spite of frequent denunciations, he became a Grand Secretary in 1630. So soon as he was secure of his position he ruthlessly persecuted his enemies, always working through others and never leaving any tangible proofs of his action. He kept his post, although unable to suggest any mode of coping with the Mauchus or rebels, contenting himself with pressing the scheme of forced subscriptions by which officials and rich men were mulcted. At last in 1637 the Emperor