Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/472

Rh in verse his chagrin at not receiving employment in the capital.

Li Mi ^ |g (T. ^ ^ ). 5th cent. A.D. A scholar who in early life was fond of study, but who devoted all his energies to books on the art of playing the lute, of which he was extremely fond. Determined to keep himself in the true path of learning, he shut himself up and cut ofiP both his hands. He was subsequently invited to take office,, but declined on the ground that all literature was before him, leaving him no time for anything else. His old tutor actually came and applied to receive instruction from him. Canonised as ]^ ^ ^ "i^ -

Li Mi ^ 1^ (T, 3fe ^ and j^ ^ ). A.D. 582-618. A colleague and subsequent rival of the founder of the T^ang dynasty. The family came originally from Liao-tung, and from his father he inherited the title of Duke of fj§ |1| P*u-shan. As a boy he was clever and studious, and he was patronised by the famous statesman, Yang Su, who first saw him riding upon an ox, absorbed in the History of the Han Dynasty. Later on he gave judicious advice to the son of Yang Su, when the latter plotted rebellion. In 616 he and ^ ^ Ghai Jang revolted and soon held most of Anhui and Honan. He called himself Duke of Wei, and issued a manifesto denouncing the Emperor's crimes. Li Yuan invited his co-operation and formed an alliance with him, although he did not mean to let him lead the movement. In 618 he defeated Yu-w6n Hua-chi, and was proceeding to the Court of Sui when Wang Shih-ch^ung seized the reins of government. Failing against Wang, he submitted to the T^ang dynasty and was ennobled as Duke. Shortly afterwards he was sent at his own request on a mission to his native province, Shantung; and there, disgusted with his own position, he raised the standard of revolt, and was slain.

Li Mu ^ i^. Died B.C. 229. A military commander of the Chao State, employed in guarding the northern frontier against