Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/146

Rh claims of Ssŭ-ma Yen to succeed his father Ssŭ-ma Chao, and consequently the founder of the Chin dynasty greatly trusted him, and raised him to be Duke of Lu and Prime Minister. He then drew up a new law code which was favourably received by the people. In 280 the attack upon Wu, which he had at first deprecated, was crowned under his leadership with such perfect success that he actually fell ill from shame. He was succeeded by his daughter's son, 韓謐 Han Mi (see Chia Mi), his jealous wife having compassed the death of two nurses whom she suspected of undue familiarity with their master, and thus caused his only two boys to pine away and die. Though an able Minister and a clever writer, posterity has ranked him among the traitors of his country. He was canonised as 武, some suggesting that 荒 would be more appropriate.

  Chia Hu 賈胡. A man of old, who cut open his belly in order to hide a valuable pearl, thus showing, as the Emperor T'ai Tsung of the T'ang dynasty said, that he loved mammon even more than life.

  Chia I 賈誼. 2nd cent. B.C. A native of Lo-yang, whose precocious talents were brought to the notice of the Emperor Wên Ti of the Han dynasty, the result being that he was made a Doctor in the Imperial Academy. He was so young, however, that the other Doctors would not consult with him; and upon this being laid by him before the Emperor, he was at once transferred to the Privy Council. His first business was to suggest that, the empire being at peace, due attention should be paid to Music and Ceremonial. He was unable to carry his point; but introduced such important and valuable changes into the administration that the Emperor proposed to make him a Prince. His enemies at once set to work to destroy him. He was exiled, and became tutor to the Prince of Liang, who proved such a kind master that when 