Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/487

 defeat the emperor agreed, but added that the defeat would be for the enemy and not for himself. This proved to be the case.

During his last years at Court, Li Kuang-ti pleaded for lenient treatment of certain officials—notably and —when they were in distress. It is reported also that when was accused, Li saved the life of that scholar by stressing his achievements as a writer. Among those whom Li brought to fame may be mentioned Yang Ming-shih (see under ),, , , , and. The last two were noted for their attainments in mathematics, a subject in which Emperor Shêng-tsu was interested. Li himself made some efforts to excel in this field but without success. After his death he was canonized as Wên-chên 文貞.

An early edition of the collected works of Li Kuang-ti bore the title Li Wên-chên kung (公) ch'üan-chi, but a more complete edition, entitled 榕村全集 Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi, appeared with a preface dated 1829. This edition contains thirty-eight items by Li and ten by four of his descendants. Fourteen of the items consist of Li's treatises on the classics. One, entitled Jung-ts'un yün-shu (韻書), is a classification of Chinese words by rhyme. Another, entitled Jung-ts'un tzŭ-hua pien-o (字畫辨訛) lists characters often written in mistaken forms. A work, entitled 曆象本要 Li hsiang pên-yao, printed in 1742—though attributed to Li—was probably written by Mei Wên-ting. Li compiled two anthologies of prose, one of verse, and three of pa-ku essays used in the examinations. The Jung-ts'un chüan-chi includes Li's own verse and essays, and a collection of his sayings as recorded by his disciples, entitled Jung-ts'un yü-lu (語錄), 30 chüan, originally printed in 1729. A supplement to this collection of sayings, entitled Jung-ts'un yü-lu hsü-pien (續編), 20 chüan, printed in 1933, sheds much light on the intrigues and political cliques of the K'ang-hsi period. Being a capable politician, Li Kuang-ti emerged victorious after many other leading officials had been disgraced. Unlike others he carefully avoided being involved in the struggle of the sons of Emperor Shêng-tsu for the throne. At one time he spoke for the heir apparent,, but managed never to offend the contenders. He seems to have been particularly favored by who, after ascending the throne, honored him posthumously with the title of Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent (1723) and entered his name in the Temple of Eminent Statesmen (1733).

Li Kuang-ti had three sons, two of whom grew to maturity. The elder, Li Chung-lun 李鍾倫, was a chü-jên of 1693 and the author of the 周禮訓纂 Chou-li hsün-tsuan, 21 chüan, printed in 1757, and three other works which are included in the Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi. The younger, Li Chung-tso 李鍾佐, died young, but his son, Li Ch'ing-chih 李清植 , became a chin-shih in 1724 and then a Hanlin compiler, later rising to the rank of junior vice-president of the Board of Ceremonies (1744). Three works by Li Ch'ing-chih are included in the Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi, one being a nien-p'u of Li Kuang-ti, entitled 文貞公年譜 Wên-chên kung nien-p'u, 2 chüan. A son of Li Ch'ing-chih, named Li Tsung-wên 李宗文, also became a chin-shih (1748) and a Hanlin compiler, and rose to the rank of a vice-president of the Board of Ceremonies (1773–77). One of his works is printed in the Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi. A son of Li Chung-lun, named Li Ch'ing-fu 李清馥, was prefect of Ta-ming-fu (1737–42) and of Kuang-p'ing-fu (1742–43), both in Chihli, and the author of a revised edition of the nien-p'u of Li Kuang-ti, entitled Jung-ts'un p'u-lu ho-k'ao (譜錄合考), compiled chiefly from material in the Jung-ts'un yü-lu hsü-pien, and in unpublished letters. This and another work by Li Ch'ing-fu, entitled 道南講授 Tao-nan chiang-shou, 13 chüan, (completed 1770?) were printed in the Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi.

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 LI Kung 李塨, May 14, 1659–1733, Feb. 14, philosopher, was born in the village of Hsi-Ts'ao chia-tsui 西曹家蕞, in the district of Li-hsien, Chihli. During his childhood he was taught by his father, Li Ming-hsing 李明性, a scholar whom praised as one of the most upright men of his day. At the close of 1673 Li Kung married Wang Chihshun 王至順 (1658–1676), a sister of Wang 475