Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/345

Rh HU-êr-han. See under.

 HU Hsü 胡煦, 1655–1736, Oct. 17, scholar and official, was a native of Kuang-shan, Honan. Although he became a chü-jên in 1684, he did not succeed in obtaining his chin-shih until 1712 at the rather advanced age of fifty-eight (sui). In 1714 he was appointed to a post in the Imperial Study (see under ) to assist in the compilation of the Chou-i chê-chung, a work on the Classic of Changes in 22 chüan which, under the general editorship of the Grand Secretary,, was completed in 1715. He became sub-chancellor of the Grand Secretariat in 1723 and was made a vice-president of the Board of War in 1727. Later he also served as a tutor to the princes and as one of the directors-general for the compilation of the official history of the Ming Dynasty (Ming-shih). In 1731, shortly after he became a vice-president of the Board of Ceremonies, he was ordered to retire on grounds of old age. A year later he was deprived of his former ranks for a minor offense. He was summoned to an audience with Emperor Kao-tsung in 1736, and in recognition of his past services all ranks were restored to him. He died in the capital in the autumn of the same year. In 1794, almost a cycle after his death, the posthumous name Wên-liang 文良 was officially conferred upon him.

As a scholar Hu Hsü devoted his attention to the Classic of Changes, and his 周易函書 Chou-i han-shu, in 52 chüan, is a thorough study of that classic. This work was originally in 158 chüan. Two sections of it were printed separately during his lifetime, but the work as a whole was never printed. An edition in 52 chüan, edited by his youngest son, Hu Chi-t'ang 胡季堂, was presented to the editors of the Ssŭ-k'u ch'üan shu (see under ) in 1773 when the son was provincial judge of Kiangsu. This son, who later rose in his official career to the presidency of the Board of Punishments (1779–98), and to the governor-generalship of Chihli (1798–1800), also left a collection of literary works under the title 培蔭軒集 P'ei-yin hsüan chi (4 chüan of verse, 2 of prose, and 2 of notes) which was printed in 1822. Hu Hsü was the author of another work, entitled 卜法詳考 Pu-fa hsiang-k'ao, 4 chüan, which traces the development of the study of divination. It was originally a part of the aforementioned Chou-i han-shu. The Chou-i han-shu and the Pu-fa hsiang-k'ao were given notice in the Imperial Catalogue and were copied into the Imperial Manuscript Library. Hu Hsü's collected poems in 4 chüan, and his prose essays in 4 chüan, were first printed in 1772 under the title 葆璞堂集 Pao-p'u t'ang chi.

[1/296/6b; 3/71/26a, 182/20a; Kuang-shan hsien chih (1785) 27/14a; Ssŭ-k'u, 6/8b, 109/5a;, Hsiang-shu chai wên, hsü ch'ao, 5/37a.]

2em

HU Lin-i 胡林翼, July 14, 1812–1861, Sept. 30, general and statesman, was a native of I-yang, Hunan. His father, Hu Ta-yüan 胡達源, (d. 1841, age 64 sui), the third highest chin-shih of 1819, who rose to be expositor of the Hanlin Academy and supervisor of imperial instruction, was a follower of the Sung Neo-Confucian philosophy. Hu Lin-i, too, was a brilliant student who obtained his chin-shih degree in 1836, and two years later became a compiler of the Hanlin Academy. From 1847 to 1853 he was first acting, then actual, prefect of various prefectures in the province of Kweichow. During this period banditti and secret societies were spreading in South China and Hu Lin-i distinguished himself by his efficient organization of militia to suppress them. He became noted, too, for his knowledge of military science. When he was promoted to intendant of the Kuei-tung Circuit (1854) the neighboring provinces of Hupeh and Hunan were menaced by the Taipings. With a regiment of militia from Kweichow, he went to the front and fought first in Hunan and then in Hupeh, quelling local uprisings and stemming the advance of the Taiping insurgents. He then went to the assistance of who was attacking Kiukiang. When the Taipings attempted to weaken the assault on Kiukiang by taking Wuchang (April 3, 1855) Hu Lin-i and his forces were sent from Kiukiang to recover that city. To promote this objective, and as a reward for his past exploits, he was appointed (April 18, 1855) acting governor of Hupeh. It was a time when government troops and provisions were inadequate and the power of the Taipings was becoming increasingly ominous. In this period of unprecedented turmoil and danger Hu Lin-i remained calm; he consoled and inspired his soldiers with Confucian admonitions of loyalty and faithfulness; and raised funds by the likin system (see under ), by taxes on salt, etc.; and by appeals for help both within and without the province. When a relief expedition, led by, arrived from Kiangsi the 333