1472—1528. A native of Y^-yao in Chehkiang, who graduated as chin shih in 1499 and entered upon a public career. But he soon incurred the displeasure of the then powerful ^ ^ Liu Chin, and was actually bambooed and dismissed to a petty office in Eueichou. There he set to work to civilise the savages until the death of Liu Chin in 1510, when he was recalled and appointed to several high posts. In 1519 he subdued an insurrection in Eiangsi (see Ch^Sn Hao), and in 1527 he conducted a successful campaign against the wild tribes of Euangsi, for which services he was made President of the Board of War and ennobled as Earl. The envy and malice of rivals, coupled with ill-health, caused him to resign, but he died before he reached home. He achieved considerable distinction as a speculative philosopher, and his literary remains, including poems, essays etc., have been published under the title ^^ £ i^ '^ ^ * ^^ ^^ canonised as ^ J^ , and in 1584 his tablet was placed in the Confucian Temple.
2225 Wang Shu ^ ^ . The fabled charioteer of the moon.
2226 Wang Shu ^ ^, (T. ^^). A.D. 1416-1508. A native of ^ j^ San-yuan in Shensi, who graduated as chin shih in 1448 and rose to the highest offices of State. His career however was a chequered one. His protests against the outrages of eunuch com- missionsi which were sent out to obtain flowers, animals, and rarities for the palace, and against the favour shown iS Buddhism, coupled with his defence of innocent officials, gained him a great name, expressed in the popular saying that the two capitals have a dozen Boards but only one Wang Shu." In 1486 the Emperor, backed by Wang's numerous and influential foes, ordered him to retire; but in 1488 the new monarch Hsiao Tsung recalled him as President of the Board of Civil Office. Liu Chi, fearing him as a rival, secretly checked his schemes of reform; the Emperor however, in spite of his strong remonstrance against the employment of
