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of the Eastern Han dynasty. His accession to the throne was portended in early days by a bright halo which sarroanded his dwelling. Also, a red serpent was discovered in his bed. His reign was marked by earthquakes, floods, and droughts, — in spite of the fact that two yellow dragons and one Mi-lin appeared in Honan; and the distress was on one occasion so seTere that men were reduced to eating one another. Canonised as ^ ^ ^ ^ ^.

1375 Liu Yil ^ |g^ (T. ^ H and ^ tJK )• A.D. 356-422. The founder of the Liu Sung dynasty. Born at P'fing-ch^Sng, of poor parents, he claimed descent from a brother of the founder of the Han dynasty. After a scanty education he began life as a seller of straw sandals; but in 399 he enlisted as a soldier, and by the bravery he displayed against the rebel J^ J^ Sun '^n he soon obtained a command. For some years he was engaged in quelling the rebellions of Huan Hstlan, 盧循 Lu Hsün, and g||| j^ Ch4ao Tsung; for which services he was made Field Marshal in 411, and in 416 became Commander-in-chief, with the title of Duke of Sung. He ultimately succeeded in carrying the boundary of the Chin empire right up to the Yellow River. In 419 he caused the Emperor An Ti to be strangled, and set up the latter's brother as the Emperor Eung Ti. Sixteen months later, Eung Ti abdicated in his favour; whereupon he mounted the throne, with his capital at Nanking, for an uneventful reign which was cut short by death within two years. Canonised as ]^ ^.

1376 Liu YH ^]^ (T. j^^y A.D. 439-472. Eleventh son of Liu I-lung, and uncle of Liu Yeh whom he succeeded in 464 as sixth sovereign of the Liu Sung dynasty. In the third year of his reign most of the northern and western provinces revolted, and Wei annexed all the provinces north and west of the river Huai. He slew all his brothers but one, and in his latter days wantonly killed many high officers. A devout Buddhist, he built a vast