Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/327

308 Chin dynasty, who raised him to high office. The death of his &ther aggravated an illness from which he was suffering, and he died within the year.

Hsü Pên  (T. jfe A )• ^^ ^-D- 1747. Son of HstL Ch'ao. Graduated as chin shih in 1718, and after service in Peking and the provinces became in 1782 Governor of Anhai. There he improved the police, the Customs, and the tax collection, and also stopped piracy, then rife among the fishing population, by introducing a system of mutual guarantee. Recalled to Peking in 1734, he rose to be Grand Secretary, retiring in 1742. Canonised as ^^9 and in 1786 included in the Temple of Worthies.

Hsü P'u  (T. 1^ ^). A.D. 1429-1499. Graduating as chin shih in 1454, he entered the Grand Secretariat in 1487. EQs quiet conservative policy, which aimed at compromise and fnendly relations with his colleagues, was a relief after the energy, often vindictive, of his predecessor Liu Chi. His protests, however, failed to stir the Emperor to reform or to check the power of Li Kuang and the Taoists. Indeed, during his twelve years as Minister, he was only once received in audience. In 1497 he was entrusted with the preparation of the 1^ 'i^ ^ StcUutes of the Ming Dynasty^ which were published in 1509. To his subordinates he was lenient, and in private life he was distinguished for filial piety, frugality, and charity. He left 800 mou of land free of taxes to the poor of his clan. Canonised. as ^ flU.

Hsü Shao  (T. -T* # )• 2nd and 8rd cent. A.D. A native of P4ng-yia in Honan, who attracted the notice of Ts'ao Ts'ao but refused to serve under him, telling the great commander to his face that he was a rebel and a disturber of the public peace. He is now chiefly remembered in connection with his practice of devoting the first d&y of every month to criticism of his neighbours and their conduct. Hence the phrase ^ J^ to criticise. He and