Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/273

amassed great wealth, and in the chase, of which he was very fond, he is said to have used golden pellets for his crossbow. On one occasion, the Emperor invited the Prince of Chiang-tu to go out hunting; but for some reason or other his own chariot was unable to proceed, and he sent Han Yen in another chariot on before him. The Prince, mistaking this equipage for that of the Emperor, drew to the side and fell down on his knees with all his cortège to allow his Majesty to pass. On discovering his error he was furious, and complained bitterly to the Empress Dowager. Before long a charge of immorality was brought against Han Yen, and in spite of the Emperor's efforts to save him, he was forced to commit suicide.

631 Han Ying 韓嬰. 2nd cent. B.C. A native of the Yen State, and one of the earliest commentators upon the Odes. His text differed from that of Sên Kung and Yüan Ku, but his interpretations were substantially the same. Summoned to discuss the question with Tung Chung-shu in the presence of the Emperor Wu Ti, he succeeded in holding his own even against that great scholar. Of his 內傳 and 外傳, the latter only is extant.

632

Han Yü 韓愈 (T. 退之. H. 昌黎). A.D. 768-824. A native of Têng-chou in Honan, whose ancestors came from 昌黎 Ch‘ang-li in Chihli. His father died before he was three years old, and he was left to the charge of his brother. This brother was shortly afterwards banished to Kuangtung, whither he carried the little boy together with their widowed mother. On the death of his brother some years later, Han Yü returned with his mother to Honan. There he devoted himself assiduously to study; and it was recorded as something unusual that he burnt grease and oil in order to prolong his hours of work. On graduating he was appointed to a subordinate official post, and