Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/136

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
117


1817. A diligent student of the Classics, history, and philosophy, who refiised to enter upon an official career, and devoted himself to Uterature. He wrote commentaries on the Canons of History and Changes J notes on the Spring and Autumn, and poems. He was an opponent of the Sung school of classical interpretation. Gave himself the sobriquet of ^;^ J§ ^j;; .

286 Chi An (T.:g i|). Died B.C.? 108. An able Minister under the Emperor Wu Ti of the Han dynasty, who spoke of him as j|^ ^ ^ an official with the weal of the people at his heart. On several occasions he fell into disfavour, but always managed to recover his position, thus justifying the remark of Huai Nan Tztl that all the Imperial advisers could be shaken off like dust, except Chi An. While Governor of the modern j^ Hai-chou in Eiangsu he put into practice, with considerable success, the doctrine of pas trap gouverner inculcated by Lao Tztl. In B.G. 181 he defended the fallen Ton Ting, and in 125 his l)old disputations with ^ |^ Chang 'Fang, whose policy he d^cribed as that of a mere clerk, led to his being shelved as Jtiaior Director of the Clan Court. He lost favour still fur- ther by opposing the wars against the Hsiung-nu, and by tel- ling the Emperor that he selected Ministers as he might gather a faggot, always putting the last sticks on the top. In B.C. 118 he became Governor of modern E^ai-f^ng Fu, and there made great efforts to put an end to the illicit coinage which prevailed, while once, more practising the same policy of administration as in earlier years at Hai-chou.

287 Chi Cha . 6th cent. B.C. A descendant in the twentieth degree from Wu T'ai Po, founder of the State of Wu, or (2) in the nineteenth degree from j^ ^1^ Yu Chung. He was the fourth and favourite son of Shou M^ng, Prince of Wu, who wished to bequeath to him the throne; but he. declined to usurp the rights