Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/868

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
849

and painting, ancient and modern. His poems also are much admired. He was devoted to music and spent large sums upon singers.

Wang Wen-hsinng ^ ^ 4| (T. ;|K giji ). Died A.D. 1800. 2243 A native of 35 >^ Yil-p*ing in Eneichou, who rose from the ranks, owing to his valour in the Burmese and second Chin-ch'uan wars, to be Commander-in-chief in Shensi. He was engaged from 1796 until his death in fighting the insurgents of Hupeh , Sstich'uan , Kansuh, and Shensi. At length, surrounded by a vastly superior force, he was overwhelmed and slain. In the following year the rebel leader who had defeated him was himself captured, whereupon the Emperor directed that the head of the latter should be struck off and sent to the tomb of Wang W6n-hsiung in Eneichou, as an expiatory offering to his loyal spirit. He was included in the Temple of Worthies, and canonised as ^ ^ .

Wang Tao-cli'en i*E (T. ^|&0). A.D. 1001-1056. 2244 A statesman and scholar of the Sung dynasty, who graduated as first chin shih and after distinguishing himself during the rebellion of Ghao Y^an-hao in 1034, rose to be President of the Board of CSvil Office. Canonised as ^ ^ , changed in 1080 to ^ J^ , as a reward for having supported the claims of the Emperor Ting Tsung.

Wang Ten ^ f^ (T. Hlf . H. J|L^). A.D. 256-311. 2246 Brother to Wang Jung. His great abilities attracted the notice of Shan 'Pao, and Wang Jung declared to the Emperor Wu Ti of the Chin dynasty that only among the men of old was his peer to be found. He was famous as a brilliant talker, especially on Taoism; and in conversation he used to wave a yak*s tail set in a jade handle, as it were to guide the herd. As Magistrate of 7^ ^ Ydan-ch'Sng in Chihli, he practised with great success the /at^^^^r-yatVe policy taught by Lao Tztl. From his habit of making unauthorised emendations in the Taoist classics, he was popularly said to have '^orpiment in his mouth,*' meaning that he did hot wait to smear