古音義 and of the 毛詩古音考, works on the old

sounds of characters as deduced from the rhymes in ancient

poetry, etc. etc. He maintained à outrance 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

rhyme. He named his home the 世善堂, and under that title

published a catalogue of the books in his library.

252

Ch'ên Ting 陳定 (T. 子終). 4th cent. B.C. Commonly

known as 陳仲子 Ch'ên Chung Tzŭ. A man of the Ch'i

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 Mencius declared a man

would have to be an earthworm in order to carry them out.

253 Ch'ên T'ing-ching 陳廷敬 (T. 子端, H. 悅巖). Died

A.D. 1712. Origioally named Ch'ên Ching, the "T'ing" was added

by the Emperor to distinguish him from another Ch'ên Ching,

who 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

in 1711, but was recalled to office next year. He was a constant

and diligent student, and compiled, with Hsŭ Ch'ien-hsŭo, the

鑑古輯覺; and was also an editor of many of the chief

works published by K'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 clean-handedness the first requisite for all offices.

Canonised as 文貞.

254

Ch'ên Ts'ao 陳慥 (T. 卒常. H. 方山子 and 龍邱