Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/568

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native of Shanghai, who passed first on the list of ehu jen and in 1505 graduated as chin shih. Entering ofiScial life, he rose to a high post in the department charged with the education of the Heir Apparent. Author of the ^ ^, a well-known work on orthography, etc. Canonised as 'l^.

Lu Sheng j^ ^. 3rd cent. B.C. A magician and alchemist who 1428 flourished under the First Emperor, and is said to have accompanied HsiCl Shih in his search for the Isles of the Blest. Lu Sheng j£ ^. In the year A.D. 732, a Taoist sage, named 1429 § ^ Old Father Lii, was travelling in modern Chihli, and sought a temporary rest at a house in which a lad named Lu was employed as a servant. While the master of the house was engaged in cooking some millet-porridge, the lad complained bitterly to the stranger of his humble lot in life. Thereupon the latter bade him rest his head on a pillow which he took from his wallet, saying, 'This will lead you to success and glory." The lad had no sooner laid his head upon the pillow than he dreamt that he returned to his home, married a lovely bride named the Lady Ts'ui, gained the highest degree at the public examinations, was promoted to the rank of Imperial Secretary, and died full of honours at the age of 80; yet when he awaked, the porridge was not fully cooked. Turning to the sage, he thanked him for the hint thus conveyed, saying, "Sir, you have instructed me!" This occurrence, popularly known as the Dream of the Yellow Millet, is also related in reference to Lii Yen.

Lu Shih J^ ^. A lady who lived under the T*ang dynasty. 1430 Famous for having remained to protect her aged mother-in-law from robbers, when all the other members of the family had run away. "Ah!" said the old lady, quoting from the Gonfuciekn Analects , "'tis in cold weather that we become aware of the endurance of the fir and the pine."