Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/77

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58
A Chinese Biographical Dictionary

the fables of peace and prosperity told to him by Chia Ssŭ-tao. Chia was treated almost as an equal, and a threat to retire never failed to enable him to carry his point. All matters were left to his decision. He sold office, concealed the disasters of the war, and left the grievances of the people unredressed. Warnings of impending Mongol invasion were disregarded, until in 1268 siege was laid to Hsiang-yang in Hupeh. The heroic defence of 呂文煥 Lü Wên-huan delayed the collapse of the dynasty; however in 1273, disgusted at the feeble attempts of an apathetic Court to succour him, and disheartened by the fall of 樊城 Fan-ch'êng, owing to the use of artillery from Central Asia, that General capitulated. Even this disaster failed to shake the Emperor's confidence in Chia Ssŭ-tao, whose honours were continually increased. In 1269 written Mongol characters were introduced, and in 1271 the dynastic style 元 Yüan was formally adopted by the Mongol conquerors. Canonised as 度宗皇帝.

148 Chao Chia 趙嘏 (T. 承祐). 9th cent. A.D. A native of Shan-yang in Kiangsu, who flourished as a poet and official under the T'ang dynasty. He graduated as chin shih in 842, and rose to be Commandant of 渭南 Wei-nan in Shensi. The poet Tu Mu called him 趙倚樓 Chao I-lou, from a line of his poetry which ran 長笛一聲人倚樓.

149 Chao Chih-hsin 趙執信 (T. 伸符. H. 秋谷). A.D. 1662—1744. A native of Shantung. Graduated as hsiu ts'ai at the early age of 14, and as chin shih in 1679. He was engaged upon the Institutes of the present dynasty. Forced to retire at the age of 80, he devoted himself to wine and poetry and travel. He wrote on the Tones, and on the principles of the poetic art.

150 Chao Ch'ung-kuo 趙充國 (T. 翁孫). B.C. 137-52. A military commander under the Han dynasty. He belonged to a corps of young men who met together to practise archery and