Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/119

Rh development of Japanese poetry. In 1660 Ch'ên's patron ordered a kiln built, and Ch'ên manufactured a number of pieces of porcelain modelled after imported Annam ware and modified by his own orginaloriginal [sic] patterns. Later this ware was called Gen-pin-yaki, i.e., "[Ch'ên] Yüan-pin ware."

To Ch'ên is also frequently ascribed the introduction of jūjutsu 柔術. An anonymous work, 拳法秘書 Kempō hisho, published some time before 1683, stated that jūjutsu had originated in Japan following a conversation between Ch'ên and three rōnin regarding the Chinese method of seizing a man. This theory has since been widely accepted. However, careful investigation by competent scholars has disclosed the prior existence of a similar art known as yawara, and Ch'ên probably should not be regarded as the founder of jūjutsu, but rather as one who gave it the stimulus that inspired its later prodigious development. He died in 1671 and his remains were interred at the Kenchū monastery in Nagoya.

[Gen Gen shōwa shū; 先哲叢談 Sentetsu sōdan 2; Tsuji Zennosuke 辻善之肋, 海外交通史話 Kaigai kōtsū shiwa pp. 660–80; Shimokawa Ushio 下川潮, 陳元贇と柔道の始祖, 史林, Chin Gen-pin to judō no shiso (Shirin) 6/2/35; 附錄雜書僎者小傳 Furoku zassho senja shōden in 續史籍集覽 Zoku Shiseki shūran 6; 尾張名家誌 Owari meika shi 上卷; 好古類纂 Kōko ruisan 3, with portrait; 尾張名所圖會 Owari meisho zuye 2; 尾張敬公 Owari Kei-kō (1910), p. 99.]

2em

 CHÊNG Chên 鄭珍, Apr. 28, 1806–1864, Oct. 17, poet and scholar, was a native of Tsun-i, Kweichow. His grandfather and his father were physicians. He studied under his uncle, Li Hsün 黎恂, whose daughter he later married. In 1825 he was made a senior licentiate by the commissioner of education,, and in the following year, when the latter was transferred to Hunan, Chêng Chên went as his secretary and remained with him two years. For a time in 1836 he was in P'ing-i, Yunnan, where Li Hsün was acting magistrate. Finally Chêng became a chü-jên (1837) and was engaged by the local prefect as co-compiler of the gazetteer, Tsun-i-fu chih (府志), 48 chüan, printed in 1841—the other compiler being his friend,. This gazetteer is regarded by some as one of the best of the Ch'ing period. About this time Chêng Chên printed a work on the chief industry of his district—sericulture—which he entitled 樗繭譜 Shu-chien p'u.

Failing to obtain the chin-shih degree, Chêng applied for an official appointment and was declared qualified to supervise district schools. After serving as acting sub-director of schools at Ku-chou (1845) and Chên-yüan (1850–51) in his native province he was appointed in 1854 sub-director of schools of Li-po, also in Kweichow. But in 1855 the Miao tribesmen rebelled and attacked Li-po. For a time Chêng helped to hold the city against the insurgents, but soon sensed the futility of further resistance. After the magistrate was killed in action, and when help promised by higher officials failed to arrive, he abandoned his post and retired. About this time (1855) his anthology of the poets of Tsun-i, entitled 播雅 Po-ya, 24 chüan, was printed by the T'ang family of that district (see under ). In 1861 Chêng began to teach in the Hsiang-ch'uan Academy 湘川書院 of his native town. But at this time Kweichow, like the rest of China, was harassed by rebellions: Chêng's home was ransacked by local insurgents and a part of his library was burned. In 1863 he moved to a fort built by the civilians to withstand the bandits. In the same year he received notice that he had been recommended to the throne by and had qualified as magistrate. Hard-pressed by poverty, he was gladdened by the news, and by the hope of meeting his old friend, Mo Yu-chih, at Nanking. He was about to proceed to Kiangsu to receive appointment from, but was prevented by illness from leaving home, and died the following year.

Chêng Chên is regarded as one of the greatest poets of the later Ch'ing period. While other poets were imitating great masters of by-gone days, and writing verse in archaic, not to say unintelligible, characters, Chêng was content to describe his own experiences, or the sufferings of the common people in warfare. The first collection of his verse, entitled 巢經巢詩鈔 Ch'ao-ching-ch'ao shih ch'ao, 9 chüan, appeared about 1854 and was edited by himself. Later this collection was several times reprinted. A fuller edition appeared in 1925 in the collectanea, 清代學術叢書 Ch'ing-tai hsüeh-shu ts'ung-shu, with supplements entitled hou-chi (後集), 4 chüan; i (遺) chi, 1 chüan; and 坿錄 fu-lu, 1 chüan. This same collectanea has specimens of 107