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Matabei

(Encyclopedia)Matabei (Iwasa Matabei) ēwäˈsä mätäbāˈ [key], 1578–1650, Japanese artist, specializing in genre scenes of historical events and illustrations of classical Chinese and Japanese literature, as...

Schwarz, Berthold

(Encyclopedia)Schwarz, Berthold bĕrˈtôlt shvärts [key], fl. 14th cent., German Franciscan monk and alchemist. It was formerly widely believed, especially in Germany, that he invented gunpowder and was the first...

Crerar, John

(Encyclopedia)Crerar, John krēˈrər [key], 1827–89, American capitalist and philanthropist, b. New York City. Crerar was a manufacturer in Chicago, and gave liberally to many causes. He is remembered chiefly fo...

Chu Shih-chieh

(Encyclopedia)Chu Shih-chieh jo͞o shŭ-jĕ [key], fl. 1280–1303, Chinese mathematician. He contributed to the study of arithmetic and geometric series and to that of finite differences. His two mathematical work...

Hejiang

(Encyclopedia)Hejiang or Hokiang both: hô-jyäng [key], former province, c.52,300 sq mi (135,500 sq km), NE China. The capital was Jiamusi (Kiamusze). Created in 1945, largely out of the former province of Jilin, ...

Six Dynasties

(Encyclopedia)Six Dynasties, period of Chinese history between the fall of the Han dynasty (a.d. 220) and the unification of China under the Sui dynasty (a.d. 589). It is named for the six successive dynasties that...

Worcester ware

(Encyclopedia)Worcester ware, ceramic ware, first manufactured in 1751, when the Lowdin pottery was moved from Bristol to Worcester. Soft paste was employed, and tea services, vases, armorial mugs, and portrait pla...

Asada Goryu

(Encyclopedia)Asada Goryu äsäˈdä gôrˈyo͞o [key], 1734–99, Japanese astronomer who helped to introduce modern astronomical instruments and methods into Japan. Asada spent much of his career in the flourishi...

Kuching

(Encyclopedia)Kuching ko͞oˈchĭng [key], city (1991 pop. 277,346), capital of Sarawak, Malaysia, in W Borneo and on the Sarawak River. It is the largest city in the state and a river port. Sago flour and pepper a...

Shen Chou

(Encyclopedia)Shen Chou shĕn jō [key], 1427–1509, Chinese painter of the Ming dynasty. He and Wen Cheng-Ming (1470–1559) were the two most important painters of the Wu school, a group of leading literati arti...