A Chinese Biographical Dictionary 103

-j^ ^ 1^ and of the % ^ "^ ^ ^, works on the old sounds of characters as deduced from the rhymes in ancient poetry, etc etc. He maintained i outrana that in early ages there was no such thing as pronouncing a word in poetry not according to its ordinary sound, but in accordance with the requirements of xiiyme. He named his home the {U^ ^ ^ , and under that title published a catalogue of the books in his library.

252 Ch'ên Ting (T. ^ ^). 4th cent. B.C. Commonly known as Ch'£n Chung Tzti. A man of the Ch4 state, who was offered a large sum of money to become Minister to the Prince of Ch^u. But he would not face the cares of official life, and fled away with his wife into the country, where they occupied themselves in watering plants. On one occasion he went without food until he could neither see nor hear. His principles were so lofty, not to say impossible, that Menciqs declared a man would have to be an earthworm in order to carry them out.

253 Ch'ên T'ing-ching (T. -T- 4Sft H. tg; ^). Died A.D. 1712. Origioally named Gh'6n Ching, the T'ing" was added by the Emperor to distingQish him from another Gh^£n Ching, ^lio also graduated as chin shih in 1658. He served in Peking in various literary and educational posts, and afterwards in the Boards, until in 1703 he became a Grand Secretary. He retired ^^ 1711, but was recaUed to office next year. He was a constant and diligent student, and compiled, with Hs^ Ch^en-hs^o, the fs '^ $^ ^ • fti^d was also an editor of many of the chief works published by E'ang Hsi. His poems gained the commendation of the Emperor for their elegant simplicity and directness. His chief theme at Court was the need of repressing extravagance and of making dean-handedness the first requisite for all offices. Canonised as ^ ^ .

254

Ch'ên Ts'ao (T. ^^. H. ^j^ llj -^ and ff J^