Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/398

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
379

who attracted the notice of Toba Sstl, second Emperor of the Northern Wei dynasty, and received from his Majesty the name of ^ Pi, afterwards changed to Pi as above, in token of help given in public affairs. He rose under the next Emperor to high military rank and to be President of the Board of Civil Office, but got into disgrace over the affair of ^I^ "^ ^ F6ng Wen- t'ung, whose escape was due to the fact that Eu Pi got drunk and refused to allow the army to proceed. For this he was disgraced; however he soon rose once more to rank and favour, and was ennobled as Duke. Under the succeeding Emperor his colleague in the administration was ^ ^ Chang Li. The two quarrelled, and both were dismissed from ofiSce; and for indulging in complaints at this harshness, Eu Pi was secretly accused to the Emperor, and both were put to death. From his extraordinarily pointed head, Eu Pi had been nicknamed i^ gj^ Pencil-Head by the third Emperor of the dynasty; and to the people, who lamented his unjust fate, he was affectionately known as ^ ^ Mr. Pencil.

995 Ku Sou . The father of the Emperor Shun , who came to the throne B,C. 2255. He married a second wife, and the pair treated Shun in a most unfeeling manner, attempting on several occasions to compass his death. In spite of this, Shun continued to exhibit towards both of them the most exemplary conduct.

996 Ku Tê-yü (T. ). 9th cent. A.D. A man who distinguished himself by the care and attention he lavished on his childless old teacher, whom he buried with as much pomp and ceremony as his own father. "To receive instruction from a man during his life," said he, "and then at death to throw him to the weeds, would be a most heartless act."

997 Ku Tso (T. ^^). Died A.D. 1446. Graduating as chin shih in 1400, he became a Censor and attracted the notice of the Emperor Yung Lo , who made him the first Governor of Peking.