136 A Chinese Biographical Dictionary

in consolidafcing the dynasty of Ghou. He is said to haye exercised authority over the spirits of the unseen universe; and on one occasion daring Wa Wang*s campaigns, when the ground was covered with deep snow, he enabled the whole army to pass over it without leaving a footprint or a cart-rut behind. Even SstL-ma 0h4en speaks of him as having marshalled the spirits." Hence the phrase # :AC ^ ^ itfc "Chiang T'ai Kung is here!" often seen written up on doors to frighten away evil spirits, this being another form of the name under which he is known. Reputed author of the ^ ^ , a work on military tactics.

344 Chiang Wei (T. >f|^ ^ ). Died A.D. 263. A native of ^ ^ T'ien-shui in Eansuh, whose ambitious temperament led him to leave his humble farmstead and attach himself to the fortunes of Ghu-ko Liang. After rising to high military rank and greatly distinguishing himself in various campaigns, he failed to oppose the armies of Wei; and at the tragic close of the reign of the Emperor Hou Chu of the Minor Han dynasty, he was taken prisoner and put to death.

345 Chiang Yen (T. ^M). A.D. 443-504. A native of E'ao-ch*6ng in Shantung, who distinguished himself in youth by his application to books, and rose to the highest offices of State under the last Emperors of the Ch4 and the first Emperor of the Liang dynasty. He was a voluminous writer and published two collections of his miscellaneous works, entitled "^ ^ and ^ ^ , as well as the ^ ^ ~f" >^ i consisting of episodes in the history of the Gh4 dynasty. One night while still a young man, he dreamt that some one gave him a gaily-painted pen which put forth flowers, from which date his compositions became far more elegant than before. At the end of ten years, a handsome man, who said his name was Euo P^o, appeared to him in a

dream and claimed the pen; after which Ghiang's compositions