Chang Kiu-ling (Tze Sheo) was the son of an official in the T'ang
Dynasty. At a very early age he displayed great ability, and while still
comparatively young, took a high literary degree (Tsintze), and then
held high office under the Emperor Hsueen-Tsung, with whom he sometimes
ventured to remonstrate for his licentious life. Once when all the
courtiers presented valuable gifts to the Emperor on his birthday, Chang
Kiu-ling presented him with a book written by himself and styled 'The
Thousand Year Mirror', showing the causes of success and failure in
former dynasties. His advice, however, was not seriously heeded at the
time, but after his death his faithfulness was appreciated and he was
ennobled and afterwards canonized by the Emperor.
It is recorded by one writer that Chang Kiu-ling, when a youth, trained
pigeons to carry letters to his friends.