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ap by an uncle and grew to be seven feet three inches in hei^ with a fine beard and eyebrows, a prominent nose, and a laige mouth. He was fond of agriculture, while his brother ^ ^ ^ Liu Po-sh^Dg showed a taste rather for a military life. Upon the breaking out of the locust-plague and famine which preceded the troubles of the last years of Wang Manges usurpation, he made himself popular by selling grain to the people at a low rate. At length he took up arms; and after a series of bloody battles succeeded in A.D. 25 in placing himself upon the throne as first Emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty. Canonised as -^ '^ ^ , with the temple name of {H^ ]jj^,

Liu Hsii fj |f (T. ^ ]t ). Died A.D. 518. A native of P'ing- yiQau in Shantung, who lost his parents as a boy and almost went out of his mind with grief. When he grew up, his elder brother arranged a marriage for him; but he fled in terror, and remained- in concealment until the affair had blown over. He received the offer of a post, which he refused, preferring to devote his time to the study, first of Taoist, and later of Buddhist doctrines. He and his brother Liu ^f^ Hsiao founded a famous monastery, and together with jJ/C ^ ^ Ydan Hsiao-hsQ were known as the ^

Three Recluses.

Liu Hsti ^ B^. A.D. 897-946. A handsome and learned official, who in 934 became Historiographer and completeil the Old T^ang History^ which in spite of some prolixity and omissions still retains its place in the national annals. As President of the Board of Civil Office he cleared away all arrears of business, to the great joy of the people; but quarrelling with a colleague, he was shelved as a Grand Chamberlain. About 945 he was Minister of Justice, from which post he soon retired in ill-health.

Liu Hsiian ^ ^ (T. H ^ ). Died A.D. 25. Third cousin to Liu Hsiu, first Emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty. During