Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/852

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1720—1798. A native of Eiangsu, distiDgnished as a poet, and a writer on classical and historical, subjects. He served from 1754 to 1769 in the Qrand Secretariat, but then retired and spent the rest of his life in strict seclusion at Soochow. His cyclopsedia, entitled !^ ^ ^, may be ranked as a considerable literary success, and his "f^ -^^ ^ ^ ||| Criticism on the Seventeen Dynastic Histories is also much admired. Was popularly known as

Wang Ning-chih 王凝之 4th cent. A.D. Son of Wang Hsi-chih, and husband of Tao Yün. He showed some talent as a calligraphist, but appears to have been a worthless fellow and was deserted by his wife. When Kuei-chi was attacked by Sun En he refused to make any defence, and after spending some time in prayer he declared that the gods would fight against the rebels. The result was that the city was taken, and he was put to death.

Wang Pa 3E ^ (T. ^ >fr|l ). Ist cent. B.C. and 1st cent. A.D. 2207 An official under the last Emperors of the W. Han dynasty, who, when Wang Mang usurped the throne, threw up his appointment and retired into seclusion. In the early years of the reign, of the Emperor Euang Wu he again entered public life, but after a short time he pleaded sickness and resigned. He became a hermit, and lived in a rush hut to the end of his long life.

Wang Pa ^ ^ (T. tc >f|^ ). Died A.D. 58. A native of |^ 2208 Ying-yang in Anhui, who, when Liu Hsiu passed through the District, raised a volunteer force and joined his standard. On one occasion, when Liu Hsiu*s army was retreating before Wang Lang, he pretended that the river ahead of them was frozen hard, and thus encouraged the troops to press on. Tradition has embroidered this story by adding that the army passed over on the ice, which became unsafe immediately after they had crossed.