222 CHINESE LITERATURE
of all kinds, even, for example, of ancient medical and botanical works. I have, moreover, dipped into treatises on agriculture and on needlework, all of which I have found very profitable in aiding me to seize the great scheme of the Canon itself. For learning in these days is a totally different pursuit from what it was in the olden times ; and it is now impossible otherwise to get at the real meaning of our ancient sages.
" There was Yang Hsiung. He hated all books that were not orthodox. Yet he made a wide study of hetero- dox writers. By force of education he was enabled to take what of good and to reject what of bad he found in each. Their pernicious influence was altogether lost on him ; while on the other hand he was prepared the more effectively to elucidate what we know to be the truth. Now, do you consider that I have been corrupted by these pernicious influences ? If so, you know me not.
" No ! the pernicious influences of the age are not to be sought for in the Canon of Buddha. They are to be found in the corruption and vice of those in high places ; in the false and shameless conduct which is now rife among us. Do you not agree with me ? "
Su SHIH (1036-1101), better known by his fancy name as Su Tung-p'o, whose early education was superin- tended by his mother, produced such excellent com- positions at the examination for his final degree that the examiner, Ou-yang Hsiu, suspected them to be the work of a qualified substitute. Ultimately he came out first on the list. He rose to be a statesman, who made more enemies than friends, and was per- petually struggling against the machinations of un- scrupulous opponents, which on one occasion resulted
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