Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/206

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
187


of money, with howerer yery little result. In 1400 ennnchs were appointed to official poets, and set to wateh the doings of the r^pdar staff. In 1410 the Japanese inyaded Liao-tnng, but their attempt prored a disastrous failure. In 1421 the capital wasmoyed to Peking. The Emperor patronised literature, and issued the huge encyelopeedia known as the ^ ^ ^ ^ , which occupied for ofer two years the energies of fiye chief directors, twenty sub- directors, and 2,160 subordinates (see JTineA Chin). His Majesty was an ardent Buddhist, and the priests of that religion were raised to high positions and exerted considerable influence at Court. In 1421 there were loud complaints that some 10,000 priests were maintained in Peking, while the people of seyeral provinces were reduced to eating bark and grass. Canonised as ^ ^ ^ , to which was added later on the temple-name of .

472 Chu Tsai-Hou . A.D. 1537-1572. Son of Chu Hon- tsung, whom he succeeded in 1567 as twelfth Emperor of the Ifing dynasty. His short reign opened with reforms, the building of palaces being stopped and magicians punished. The grain- transport route was reopened and the breach in the Yellow Biyer was closed, though fresh breaches took place in 1569 and 1570, Eunuchs howeyer still continued to bsk charged with the supervision of the regular officials. In 1567 Anda threatened the capital, but four years later made peace and received a title. Canonised as

473 Chu Tz'ŭ . A.D. 742-784. A native of Ch'ang-p'ing in Chihli, and son of a lieutenant under An-lu-shan. He gained gpreat popularity by his ostentatious liberality while serving under ^ ^ f|lj Li Huai-hsien. In 772 he was confirmed as Viceroy of H^ ^^ Lu-lung in Chihli , and was ennobled as Prince. Two years later he came to Court in state, and at his own request was transferred to Shensi, his post being changed to FAng-hsiang