Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/558

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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary
539

being astronomy. Although he accepted a military command under Sun Ch'üan, he did not relinquish his studies. He constructed a celestial map; he annotated the Canon of Changes; and finally he foretold his own death, which happened at the early age of 32.


1402 Lu Chi 陸機 (T. 士衡). A.D. 261-308. The son of an official under the Wu dynasty. He was seven feet in height, and had a voice like thunder. Upon the fall of the House of Wu he retired to his native place in Kiangsu, where he devoted himself to study for ten years. In 289 he and his brother, Lu 雲 Yün, proceeded to the capital, and upon the recommendation of Chang Hua they both received posts. Entering the service of Prince 倫 Lun of Chao, he shared his master's downfall and was condemned to death. From this fate he was saved by Prince 頴 Ying of Ch'êng-tu, to whose fortunes he at once closely attached himself. When the latter, at his advice, took up arms against the Prince of Ch'ang-sha, he was entrusted with a command. His troops however being defeated, their repulse was attributed by a scoundrel, who owed Lu Yün a grudge, to treachery on the part of their commander. Prince Ting was highly incensed, and caused him to be seized and put to death, together with his brother and his two sons. It is said that when this unjust act became known to the soldiers, there was not one who could refrain from weeping. He and his brother, who was very clever and could compose at six years of age, are known as "the Two Lu." See Ku Jung.


1403 Lu Ch'i 盧祀 (T. 子良). Died A.D. 785. An unworthy Minister who flourished under the Emperor Tê Tsung of the T'ang dynasty. That sovereign raised him in 781 to be the colleague of Yang Yen, just when the latter began to decline in favour after having compassed the death of the wise and upright Liu Ten. Lu Ch'i's father and his grandfather had rendered eminent services to the State; but Lu Ch'i himself was despised for his want of education