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LI CHING-YUN DEAD; _ GAVE HIS AGE AS 97 A correspondent of the New York Times wrote in 1928 that many of the oldest men in Li's neighborhood asserted their grandfathers knew him as boys and that he was then a LI CHING-YUN DEAD; A correspondent of the New York to 250. Another pupil said Li told GAVE HIS AGE AS 197 Times wrote in 1928 that many of the him to "keep a quiet heart, sit like a INQUIRY PUT AGE AT 256 oldest men in Li's neighborhood _ tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon asserted their grandfathers knew him and sleep like a dog". EIPING, May 5 [1933], UPI— Li as boys and that he was then a According to one version of Li's Poningsyun a resident of grown man. married life, he had buried twenty- Kaihsien, in the Province of According to the generally three wives and was living with his Szechwan, who contended that he accepted tales told in his province, twenty-fourth, a woman of sixty. was one of the world's oldest Another account, which in 1928 men and said he was born in H H credited him with 180 living 1736—which would make him Another pupil said descendants, comprising eleven 197 years old—died today. Li told him to generations, recorded only A Chinese dispatch from " . fourteen marriages. Chungking telling of Mr Li's keep a quiet heart, This second authority said his death said he attributed his sit like a tortoise, eyesight was good; also, that the longevity to peace of mind and walk sprightly likea pigeon finger nails of his right hand were that it was his belief every one . it very long, and "long" for a could live at least a century by and sleep like a dog . Chinese might mean longer than attaining inward calm. any finger nails ever dreamed of Compared with estimates of Li in the United States. Ching-yun's age in previous reports Li was able to read and write as a One statement of the Times from China, the above dispatch is child, and by his tenth birthday had correspondent, which probably conservative. In 1930 it was said traveled in Kansu, Shansi, Tibet, caused skeptical readers to believe Professor Wu Chung-chien, dean of Annam, Siam and Manchuria Li was born more recently than 1677, the department of education in gathering herbs. For the first was that "many who have seen him Minkuo University, had found hundred years he continued at this recently declare that his facial records showing Li was born in 1677 occupation. Then he switched to appearance is no different from that and that the Imperial Chinese selling herbs gathered by others. of persons two centuries his junior". Government congratulated him on Wu Pei-fu, the warlord, took Li into (Source: The New York Times, May 6, his 150th and 200th birthdays. is house to learn the secret of living 1933) grown man. According to the generally accepted tales told in his province, Another pupil said Li told him to "keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog". Li was able to read and write as a child, and by his tenth birthday had raveled in Kansu, Shansi, Tibet, Annam, Siam and Manchuria gathering herbs. For the first undred years he continued at this occupation. Then he switched to selling herbs gathered by others. Wu Pei-fu, the warlord, took Li into is house to learn the secret of living 68 * NEXUS INQUIRY PUT AGE AT 256 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com