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tales." The collection was completed in 1679 and published under the title of the J^ ^ ^ ^ Liao chat cfii t, and now takes rank among the finest of China's literary e£forts for the matchless brilUancy of its style.

P'u-t'i-ta-mo. See Bodhidbarma.

1609 P*U Yung-sheng ^ ^ ^. A famous artist of the Sung dynasty, especially good at painting water. He was also a wine^bibber and a loose liver.

S. 1670 Sang Wei-han ^^^ (^- H ^ )• ^^ ^I^- 946. A native

of Honan, who failed at his first examination for the degree of chin shihj because the Grand Examiner objected to his name, which has the same sound as ^ mourning. Nothing daunted however by his ill-success he procured an iron ink-slab, and swore that he would wear that through before he would give up trying. When at length he hud succeeded, he became secretary to Shih Ching- tSmg; and as soon as the latter broke into open rebellion, he jirocecMlcd to the Eitans to plead his cause against that of ^^ ^ ^ Ohao Te-tiao. Upon the accession of his master as first Emperor of the Later Chin dynasty he was appointed to fill various high offices, and it was by his advice that in 937 the capital was transferred to ^ ^ Ta-liang in Honan and that a firm alliance with the Kitans was maintained. His influence was now paramount and his wealth enormous. The second Emperor continued to load him with favours, until in 945 )^ 3S F6ng Yfl succeeded in displacing him. For suggesting a regency while the Emperor was suffering from delirium tremens, he was now dismissed to a provincial post. In 946, when the Kitans were threatening the capital, his advice was again sought; but on applying for an audience of the Emperor, he was told that his Majesty was busy training a falcon.