Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/838

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Shang-yil in Chehkiang, who stadied under Pan Piao, proving himself an apt but eccentric, pupil. It is recorded that he used to stroll about the market-place, reading the books he was too poor to buy, his memory being so retentive that a single perusal was sufficient to fix the contents of a volume. After a short spell of official life, he retired dissatisfied to his home i^nd there composed his great work, the ^ ^, in which he tilts against the errors of the day and even criticises freely the doctrines of Confucius and Mencius. Once more he entered upon a public career, and once more threw up his appointment. Then a friend recommended him to the Emperor Chang Ti; but ere he could take up the post which was bestowed upon him, he fell ill and died. He is ranked as a heterodox thinker. He showed that the soul could neither exist after death as a spirit nor exercise any influence upon the living. When the body decomposes, the soul, a phenomenon inseparable from vitality, perishes with it. He further argued that if the souls of human beings were immortal, those of animals would be immortal likewise; and - that space itself would not suffice to contain the countless shades of the men and creatures of all time. Wang Feng ^ ^. Died B.C. 26. Maternal uncle to the Emperor 2167 Ch^^ng Ti of the Han dynasty. EUs advance to power caused great discontent, and nearly led to his own overthrow (see Wang Chang and Tu Ch^in); and his tenure of office was chiefly distinguished by harshness and injustice. Canonised as ^^ J^.

Wang Fu 3£ ^ (T. IP >|g ). 2nd cent. A.D. A native of ^ 2168 ]^ Lin-ching in Eansuh, who distinguished himself in youth by his learning and ambition, and became intimate with Ma Jung, Chang H§ng, and other celebrities of the day. He was too honest and straightforward to take office under the existing regime, and spent his life in seclusion. He wrote a book on the vices of the age, which he published anonymously as ^ ^ ^ Essays by a