Page:A history of Chinese literature - Giles.djvu/403

 CHAPTER III

CLASSICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE POETRY

FOREMOST among the scholars of the present dynasty stands the name of Ku CHIANG (1612-1681). Remaining faithful to the Mings after their final downfall, he changed his name to Ku Yen-wu, and for a long time wandered about the country in disguise. He declined to serve under the Manchus, and supported himself by farming. A profound student, it is recorded that in his wanderings he always carried about with him several horse-loads of books to consult whenever his memory might be at fault. His writings on the Classics, history, topography, and poetry are still highly esteemed. To foreigners he is best known as the author of the Jih Chih Lu, which contains his notes, chiefly on the Classics and history, gathered during a course of reading which extended over thirty years. He also wrote many works upon the ancient sounds and rhymes.

CHU YUNG-SHUN (1617-1689) was delicate as a child, and his mother made him practise the Taoist art of pro- longing life indefinitely, which seems to be nothing more than a system of regular breathing with deep inspira- tions. He was a native of a town in Kiangsu, at the sack of which, by the conquering Tartars, his father perished

�� �