Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/467

448 State, who passed a law that all suits shonld be decided by ihe skill of the respective litigants in archery. Thus shooting with the bow came to be much practised, and the efficiency of the archers of Wei was raised to a high standard.

Li K'uei ^:^ (T. i^ ^). 8th cent. AJ). A descendant from a Eansoh family, who graduated as chin $hih and by 750 had risen to the highest offices of State, being also ennobled as Marquis. He was a yery handsome and attractive man, and surrounded himself with such refinement that he became known as the First Gentleman of the day. He managed however to offend TtUin Tsai; and in 761, when the latter came into power, he was dismissed in difi^ace. Sixteen years later the death of Ttlan Tsai gave him another chance, and he returned to office. Once again his sharp tongue brought him into disfavour with the great Lu Chi, and he was sent on a mission to the Turfan. The Turf^n chieftain said to him, '^Are you. Sir, the famous First Gentleman?" To which, fearing detention, he replied, ^*No, indeed! That Li K'uei would never come so far away as this.** He subsequently retired into private life.

Li Kuei-nien ^ H ^ (T. ^ ). 8th cent. A.D. A musician and teacher in the Imperial Operatic College under the Emperor Ming Huang of the T'ang dynasty, in which capacity he and his two brothers managed to accumulate a vast fortune.

Li Kung-tso ^ ^ ^. A minor writer of the T'ang dynasty. Author of the ^ ^ fE* ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ stories, the f^ >|^ ^ "f^, he speaks of himself as having left Kiangsi on the expiration of his term of office in A.D. 813.

Li Euo-han ^ g ^ i^^- i^M )- ^^^^ ^-^^ ^^^^' ^ Chinese Bannerman, whose father, a trader, had cast in his fortunes with the Manchus, and had been ennobled as Baron. The son proved a successful leader against China. He drove Li Tza-ch^6ng*s forces