On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c4.s2.9

v1.c4.s2.9

In the second century of our era we have another great man claimed as an ancestor of Yuan-chuang. This is Ch‘ên Shih (陳實) better known by his other name Chung-Kung (仲弓), a native of Hsü (許) a district corresponding to the present Hsü-chow-foo in Honan. At the time of the Han dynasty Hsü was in the political division called Ying-ch‘uan (潁川) and hence we find Yuan-chuang often described as a Ying-ch‘uan man. This man Ch‘ên-Shih was called to office and served in the reign of Han Huan Ti (A. D. 147 to 167). As an official Shih was pure and upright, attentive to business and zealous for the welfare of his people. Gentle but firm and kind but strict he won the affection, confidence and esteem of the people. His fame is chiefly associated with his administration of T‘ai-Ch‘iu (太丘), now the Yung-ch‘êng (永城) District in the Kuei-tê Prefecture of Honan. Here his personal influence was great and he made the people ashamed to do wrong. The effects of his just decisions and benevolent government spread over all the country, and people flocked to him from surrounding districts. Resigning office, however, after a few years he retired to his native place. He was happy and successful also in his family, and sons and grandsons grew up before him to virtue and honour. His family was recognized to be a cluster of *Tê-shing* (德星) Stars of virtuous merit, and Heaven took notice of the fact and visibly responded. In later life Chung-kung refused to return to office and died at home in the year A. D. 187 in the 84th year of his age.¹