Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/836

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night Wang Ch4n-jo was born. Gradaating as chin ahih he entered upon a pablic career, and for his ser?ice8 against the Eitan Tartars in 1004 was rapidly promoted to high posts. He quarrelled with E^ou Chun, and succeeded in bringing about that statesman's downfall. He also came eyen to blows, and in the Emperor's presence, with J|| ^ ^jf Ma Ghih-chieh, who was jealous of his influence and openly twitted him with his physical defects. For Wang was very short of stature, and had a huge tumour on his neck, from which he was known as the Goitre Minister. In 1005 he was associated with Tang I on the commission which produced the historical encydopasdia known as the ^ jj^ TjQ ^. He, and Ting Wei, ij^ ^ Lin T*6, Ch*6n P6ng-nien, and fj |?C ^ Liu Gh^dng-kuei, were known as the £ J^ Five Devils. Canonised as >^^. See Wang Tan,

Wang Ching £ ^ (T. ^ j[g). Died A.D. 83. Distinguished 2161 in youth as a student, especially of the Canon of Changes^ he subsequently devoted his attention to mathematics and astronomy. He was employed in the Public Works department, ai\i} rose in 70 to be a Censor.

Wang Chlng-wen ^^^. Died A.D. 472. A native of Lin-i 2162 in Shantung, who became a great favourite with the Emperor W6n Ti of the Sung dynasty, and whose sister married his Majesty's eleventh son, afterwards the Emperor Ming Ti. Under the latter he rose to high rank, and in 465 became President of the Board of Civil 0£Sce. He was ennobled as Marquis and appointed Governor of Yang-chou. But the Heir Apparent and his brothers were quite small children, and the Emperor began to doubt if the succession was secure to his family. Among others Wang Ching-w§n fell under suspicion. He at once resigned his post and soon afterwards was taken ill, at which juncture he received orders to commit suicide. It was evening, and he was playing chess with a friend.