devoting some time and energy to the reformation of the calendar,
he now took up the historical work which had been begun by
his father, and which was ultimately given to the world as the
(
Chinese characters) Historical Record. It is a history of China from the
earliest ages down to about one hundred years before the Christian
era, with biographies of the most eminent men of those days,
covering a period of nearly three thousand years. In such esteem
is this work justly held that its very words have been counted
and found to number 526,500 in all. Seven years later Saŭl-ma
Ch'ien fell into disgrace over the defeat and defection of Li ling,
whom he tried to vindicate; and he was subjected by the angry
Emperor to the punishment of mutilation, a harshness of treatment
which the Emperor is said to have at once regretted. He was
subsequently appointed Minister of State, and held the post until
his death. From the place of his birth he is sometimes spoken of
as "Lung-mên," and from his office, as the Grand Astrologer or (Chinese characters)
1751
Ssŭ-ma Chih (Chinese characters) (T.(Chinese characters) ). A.D. 288-313. The
youngest of the twenty-five sons of the Emperor Wu Ti of the Chin
dynasty, and one of the three surviving after the internecine struggles
of the reign of the Emperor Hui Ti. He succeeded to the throne
in 306, and fought with small success against the new State of
Han, which finally took Lo-yang and destroyed the library of Wu
Ti in 311. The Emperor was carried away to Shansi, and was
forced to serve as cupbearer to Liu Ts'ung, until he was put to
death. Canonised as (Chinese characters).
1752
Ssŭ-ma Chung (Chinese characters) (T. (Chinese characters) ). A. D. 259-306. Son of
Ssŭ-ma Ten, whom he succeeded in 290 as second sovereign of the
Ej. Chin dynasty. He devoted himself to sensual pleasures, leaving
the government to his wife, a daughter of Chia Cheung, who used
her power to gratify private enmities and to forward selfish aims.
