Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/122

Rh 古音義 and of the 毛詩古音考, works on the old sounds of characters as deduced from the rhymes in ancient poetry, etc. etc. He maintained à outrance that in early ages there was no such thing as pronouncing a word in poetry not according to its ordinary sound, but in accordance with the requirements of rhyme. He named his home the 世善堂, and under that title published a catalogue of the books in his library.

  Ch'ên Ting 陳定 (T. 子終). 4th cent. B.C. Commonly known as 陳仲子 Ch'ên Chung Tzŭ. A man of the Ch'i state, who was offered a large sum of money to become Minister to the Prince of Ch'u. But he would not face the cares of official life, and fled away with his wife into the country, where they occupied themselves in watering plants. On one occasion he went without food until he could neither see nor hear. His principles were so lofty, not to say impossible, that Mencius declared a man would have to be an earthworm in order to carry them out.

  Ch'ên T'ing-ching 陳廷敬 (T. 子端, H. 悅巖). Died A.D. 1712. Originally named Ch'ên Ching, the "T'ing" was added by the Emperor to distinguish him from another Ch'ên Ching, who also graduated as chin shih in 1658. He served in Peking in various literary and educational posts, and afterwards in the Boards, until in 1703 he became a Grand Secretary. He retired in 1711, but was recalled to office next year. He was a constant and diligent student, and compiled, with Hsŭ Ch'ien-hsüo, the 鑑古輯覺; and was also an editor of many of the chief works published by K'ang Hsi. His poems gained the commendation of the Emperor for their elegant simplicity and directness. His chief theme at Court was the need of repressing extravagance and of making clean-handedness the first requisite for all offices. Canonised as 文貞.

  Ch'ên Ts'ao 陳慥 (T. 卒常. H. 方山子 and 龍邱