shuttle, telling him to show it on his return to the astrologer Yen Chün-p'ing, who would thus know where he had been. He did so, and the astrologer at once recognised the shuttle as that of the Spinning Damsel (α Lyræ); further declaring that on the day and at the hour when Chang received the shuttle he had noticed a wandering star intrude itself between the Spinning Damsel and the Cowherd (β γ Aquilae). Thus Chang was actually believed to have sailed upon the bosom of the Milky Way. Some authorities, however, maintain that the hero of the above legend was quite a different person from the Chang Ch'ien of history.

30Chang Chien-chih 張柬之 (T. 孟將). A.D. 625-706. A native of Hsiang-yang in Hupeh, who graduated as chin shih and entered upon a public career. It was not however until 689, when there was a call for men of talent, that he distinguished himself at the competition between those who presented themselves by coming out first on the list. He was at once made a Censor, and later on he was recommended, in spite of his age, by Ti Jen-chieh to the Empress Wu Hou, under whom he filled many high posts. It was he who discovered the plot of Chang Ch'ang-tsung, and who put the two brothers to death. Under the Emperor Chung Tsung he lost his influence, and was dismissed to the provinces, where he died. Canonised as 文貞. 31Chang Chien-fêng 張建封 (T. 本立). A.D. 745-800. A statesman and general who flourished under the Emperor Tê Tsung of the T'ang dynasty, and distinguished himself by his skilful operations against the rebels of that period. He rose to be a Minister of State, and so completely gained the confidence of the Emperor that at his last audience the latter presented him with his own riding-whip, saying, "In your fidelity and devotion, adversity works no change." His favourite concubine 盼盼 P'an-p'an, was so overcome by the news of his death that on hearing