Page:A history of Chinese literature - Giles.djvu/180

 168 CHINESE LITERATURE

on the part of his aunt, the T'ai-p'ing Princess, to dis- place him; but this he succeeded in crushing, and entered upon what promised to be a glorious reign. He began with economy, closing the silk factories and forbidding the palace ladies to wear jewels or embroideries, con- siderable quantities of which were actually burnt. Until 740 the country was fairly prosperous. The administra- tion was improved, the empire was divided into fifteen provinces, and schools were established in every village. The Emperor was a patron of literature, and himself a poet of no mean capacity. He published an edition of the Classic of Filial Piety, and caused the text to be en- graved on four tablets of stone, A.D. 745. His love of war, however, and his growing extravagance, led to in- creased taxation. Fond of music, he founded a college for training youth of both sexes in this art. He sur- rounded himself by a brilliant Court, welcoming such men as the poet Li Po, at first for their talents alone, but afterwards for their readiness to participate in scenes of revelry and dissipation provided for the amusement of the Imperial concubine, the ever-famous Yang Kuei- fei. Eunuchs were appointed to official posts, and the grossest forms of religious superstition were encouraged. Women ceased to veil themselves as of old. Gradually the Emperor left off concerning himself with affairs of State ; a serious rebellion broke out, and his Majesty sought safety in flight to Ssuch'uan, returning only after having abdicated in favour of his son. The accompany- ing poem describes the rise of Yang Kuei-fei, her tragic fate at the hands of the soldiery, and her subsequent communication with her heart-broken lover from the world of shadows beyond the grave :

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