Nan

Nan was a T’ien-his’s nephew and although poor, he was determined to educate his sons, one of whom would be destined to become one of Hsiu-ning’s greatest scholars. His ambition and self-sacrificing sense of duty to glorify his son and his family found an outlet in commerce. Nan became a merchant, travelling widely in the Chiang-hu area. As a prosperous merchant, he could well afford to give his son Chun (1338-1395) the best education possible. His search for a famous teacher was successful, and he was able to employ the famous Chu Sheng to be his son’s mentor and confidant.