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missions; and his carefol observations while th as employed supplied both subjects and local colouring for his poems, which were issued under the title of )^ 7^ ^ ^. His best known work is the ^, which was reprinted as late as 1894. His ]^ :((^ fj^ ^, which is a general literary miscellany, is perhaps more interesting to foreigners, containing as it does references to the presentation of tribute by western nations. Besides these, he published many notes of travel and biography, and also an edition of the poets of the T*ang dynasty. In social life he was noted for his love of wine and good company. Canonised as ^ fj^.

Wang Shih-ch^ung ^jjt% (T. ff r^)- Died A.D. 621. 2222

Son of a native of Turkestan, who adopted the name of his mother's second husband. He entered the public service through the Body- Guard and in 605 became Vice President of the Board of Revenue. Entrusted with the defence of the capital against Li Mi, he struggled bravely in spite of several defeats. In 618, fearing the jealousy of the courtiers, he seized the capital and assumed sole control of the government, inflicting a severe defeat on Li Mi whose army was exhausted by its pursuit of Td-wen Hua-chi. In the following year he compelled his sovereign to abdicate in his favour, and set up the Principality of ^ Ch£ng; but in 621 he was attacked by Li Shih-min, and being unable either to resist or to obtain assistance from Ton Chien-t£, he prepared to surrender, when he was slain by an officer whose father he had executed.

Wang Shih-ln ^ ± ^ (T. ^ Jfg . H. ffi tl )• ^^^^ ^-D- 2^23

1672. Brother of Wang Shih-ch6ng. Graduated in 1659, and was dismissed from the public service in 1663. Famous as an historical critic and an antiquarian. He wrote the ^ ^p ^ "^ t & treatise on what women should learn, being the appendix to a projected work on the writings of female authors.

Wang Shon-jen ^ ^ t: (T. >f|& ^. H. H |Q). A.D. 2224