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2354 Wang Tii-ch'eng I ^ 5|| (T. jt :t)' ^^ ^-I^- 1<><>^-

The son of a miller at ^ ^ Chu-yeh in Shantung. While only 9 years of age he attracted the notice of the scholar and statesman M^ ^ ^ Pi Shih-an, and was educated with the latter*8 children. On one occasion his patron inscribed On a vase a line For which none of the scholars of the neighbourhood had been able to compose a suitable antithesis, viz:

A parrot, althofigh it talks, is not equal to a phoenix.

No sooner howeyer did little Wang see it than he wrote andemeath,

A spider, although it spins, is not equal to a silkworm.

He graduated as chin shih in 988, and subsequently filled many high posts in which he distinguished himself by boldness and freedom of speech. 8255 Wang Yu-tun y^ ^ f^ (T. 0j|t ^. H. gl ^). Died A.D. 1758. A native of >^ ^ Hsiu-ning in Anhui, who graduated as chin shih in 1724, and twenty years later was a Minister of the Grand Council, drafting all the Decrees issued during the war in Ohin-ch^uan and also copying out the Emperor's poems. His writing was so much admired by Oh4en Lung that he had specimens of his calligraphy cut on stone tablets and published under the title of ^ D^ ^ !^ IPA • Canonised ias ^ J^ i and included in the Temple of Worthies. See Chang Chao,

2256 Wang Ttian ^ j|g (T. ;:J^ ^ ). 2nd cent. A.D. Brother of Ma Eu, and like his sister skilled in the black art. As an astrologer he gained some reputation under the Emperor Huan Ti of the Han dynasty, and rose to high official rank. Three days after death his. corpse disappeared. See Ta^ai Ching.

2257 Wang Yiian ^^^ (T. ^ ^. H. |rfe ^). A.D. 1620-1686.

A native of Eiangsu, who distinguished himself as an enthusiastic student of ancient literature. He served in the Boards of Punishment