Yan Zhitui

Yan Zhitui

Yan Zhitui (531-597), born in Jiangling (now Jiangling, Hubei Province), is an ancient Chinese writer and educator.

Yan Zhitui studied Yili and Zuozhuan because he didn't like empty talk when he was young. He was appreciated by Xiaoyi, the king of liangxiangdong in the Southern Dynasty, for his extensive reading and rich language. At the age of 19, he was appointed as the official servant of guozuo. Later, he was nearly killed in Hou Jing's rebellion, but was saved by Wang. After the rebellion, he was ordered to study books. When the Western Wei Dynasty captured Jiangling, he was sent to the Western Wei Dynasty and was rewarded by Li Xianqing He learned that Chen Baxian abandoned Liang Jingdi and established himself. After 20 years, he stayed in the Northern Qi Dynasty and became an official again. After the Northern Qi Dynasty was destroyed, he was enlisted by the Northern Zhou Dynasty as the imperial sergeant. After the Northern Zhou Dynasty was replaced, he was called as a bachelor in the kaihuang period. Later, he died of illness in the 17th year of kaihuang (597).

Academically, Yan Zhitui is erudite and knowledgeable. He wrote a lot of books in his life. Most of his books have been lost. There are two books, Yan's family instructions and Huanyuan Zhi, jijiuzhangzhu, zhengsuyinzi and jilingji.

(general picture source: a brief history of Langya Culture Volume II: Han, Wei, Jin, southern and Northern Dynasties)

Life of the characters

Practical sense of youth

In 531, Yan Zhitui was born in Jiangling (now Jiangling, Hubei Province). His family has been studying Zhouguan and Zuozhuan from generation to generation. Yan Zhitui inherited his family studies from childhood. He was enlightened in the third year of Datong (537) and was able to recite lulingguangdian Fu.

In 539, Yan Zhitui's father Yan Xie died, and Yan Zhitui was brought up by his elder brother Yan Zhiyi.

In 542, Xiao Yi, the king of eastern Hunan, taught Zhuangzi and Laozi in Jiangzhou (now Jiujiang, Jiangxi). Yan Zhitui, a 12-year-old, took the opportunity to be his disciple. Later, because he didn't like empty talk, he went home to study Zhouli and Zuozhuan. With extensive reading and detailed preparation, the ci poetry is very beautiful and praised by the western government.

Survived the rebellion

In 548, Hou Jing's rebellion broke out. In March of the following year (549), the rebels captured Taicheng. In May, Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty, died of grief and indignation in captivity, and the crown prince Xiao Gang ascended the throne. Xiao Yi paid homage to Yan Zhitui as the right constant servant, and joined the army with Cao from the west of Jiazhen. Yan Zhitui was fond of drinking, informal and slovenly, because of the criticism at this time.

In the first year of Dabao (550), Xiao Yi set up an army to attack Hou Jing in Jiangling, and sent his son Xiao Fang Zhu out of Yingzhou. Yan Zhitui was appointed as a foreign soldier of Zhongfu army to join the army and take charge of the record. In April of the next year (550), Hou Jing conquered Yingzhou, and Yan Zhitui was captured. Hou Jing tried to kill him many times, but he was saved by Wang, a Taiwan doctor. Later, he was sent to Jiankang.

In March of the third year of Dabao (552), Hou Jing's rebels were defeated, and Yan Zhitui was released and returned to Jiangling from Jiankang (now Nanjing). In November, Xiao Yi was crowned emperor in Jiangling. When he returned to Jiangling, Yan Zhitui was granted the title of "San Qi Shi Lang". He played the role of personnel and was ordered to study books.

He was captured and served in the Northern Qi Dynasty

In November of the third year of Chengsheng (554), the Western Wei Dynasty captured Jiangling, and Liang Yuan emperor Xiao Yi was captured and killed. Yan Zhitui was captured again and sent back to the Western Wei Dynasty. Li Xianqing, the great general of the Western Wei Dynasty, took a fancy to him and recommended him to Hongnong, where he ordered Shuhan, who was in charge of Li Yuan, his elder brother Yangping.

In the seventh year of Tianbao (556), the Yellow River surged. Yan Zhitui wanted to return to the south of the Yangtze River. He wanted to return to the south of the Yangtze River from the Northern Qi Dynasty. So he prepared a boat to take his wife and belt back to the Northern Qi Dynasty. On the way, he was praised for his bravery and decisiveness. When Gao Yang saw him, he liked him very much. He immediately worshipped him as a minister. He was introduced into the inner hall and served around him. He was very valued. In October of the next year (557), Chen Baxian abolished Xiao Fangzhi, the king of Liang Dynasty, and became an official again.

In the ninth year of Tianbao (558), when Yan Zhitui's servant Gao Yang came to Tianchi and was appointed as Zhongshu Sheren, Gao Yang ordered Zhongshu Lang Duan Xiaoxin to show him the imperial edict. When he was drinking outside the camp, Duan Xiaoxin reported the truth to the emperor. Gao Yang said, "stop this appointment for the time being." So it was put on hold.

About the fourth year of Heqing Dynasty (565), Yan Zhitui was elected to join the army as a meritorious Cao of Zhaozhou. Soon after, he stayed in zhaowenlin hall, except situ Lushi.

About the second year of Tiantong (566), Gao Wei, the leader of the Northern Qi Dynasty, transferred Yan Zhitui to Kyoto for his good literature and art.

Yan Zhitui was smart, knowledgeable, talented, and good at writing letters. He responded quickly and was highly praised by zufu. Zufu ordered him to take charge of the affairs of the library and sign documents. In the third year of Wuping (572), Zuopu Shezu adopted Yan Zhitui's suggestion to set up Wenlin hall and wrote xiuwendian Yulan. Yan Zhitui joined the army in addition to situ Lushi. He presided over the affairs of Wenlin library with Li Delin, and edited xiuwendian Yulan. Soon after, he moved straight to serve on horseback, and soon led zhongshusheren.

Gaowei sometimes asked for it, and often ordered the Chinese envoy to pass on the edict, which was handed down to Shangyi, and everyone in the library was under command. All the articles he wrote were sealed by himself. He offered them to the virtuous men before returning. In addition, he can write articles, proofread and write, and he is diligent and competent. He was always envious of Gao Wei, so he had to give him a great favor. Cui Jishu and others are ready to remonstrate, and Yan Zhitui asks for leave to go home, so there is no signature on the remonstrance book. Gao Wei summoned the remonstrators, and Yan Zhitui was summoned to the palace. There was no name in the remonstration book, so he was free from disaster. Before long, he paid homage to the servant of Huangmen, so he was called yanhuangmen.

The Northern Zhou Dynasty

In the first year of Chengguang (577), the soldiers of the Northern Zhou Dynasty were trapped in Jinyang, and Gaowei rode back to Ye. The situation was urgent and there was nothing he could do. Yan Zhitui took advantage of the eunuch's servant Deng changgu to offer his advice to Chen, and advised Gaowei to recruit 7000 Wu people as his servants, and take Qinglu and xulu to join Chen. Gao Wei adopted this suggestion and told Prime Minister Gao anahumerus and others. Gao anabrachi didn't want to go to Chen, saying that Wu Shi couldn't be trusted and didn't need to recruit them. He also advised Gao Wei to send Zhenbao's family to Qingzhou and defend Sanqi. If he couldn't protect them, he would float South slowly. Although Gao Wei didn't act according to Yan Zhitui's plan, he appointed him as the governor of the plain and asked him to guard the Yellow River Ferry. In the same year, Yan Zhitui was captured for the third time and sent to Chang'an.

In the second year of Xiangxiang (580), Yan Zhitui was appointed as the chief inspector.

From Sui Dynasty to the end of his life

In the first year of kaihuang (581), the Northern Zhou Dynasty perished and the Sui Dynasty was established. Yan Silu, Yan Zhitui's son, gave birth to Yan shigu.

In the second year of kaihuang reign (582), Yan Zhitui said, "please review the elegant music according to the old affairs of Liang state, but Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty Yang Jian didn't listen.". In February, Yang jianlizi and Yang Yong became the crown prince. Later, Yan Zhitui was called a bachelor by the crown prince Yang Yongzhao, who was very polite.

In 583, Yan Zhitui was ordered to receive Ruan Zhuo, an envoy of the state of Chen.

In 597, Yan Zhitui died of illness.

Main achievements

In literary creation, Yan Zhitui wrote a lot. His Yan's family precepts is the first family precepts with great system and rich content in the history of Chinese Han nationality. It is the first family precepts to provide reference for future generations in family education and moral cultivation, as well as for future generations to study the history and language and literature of the southern and Northern Dynasties. At the same time, the articles in the book are unique in the beauty of clear and smooth flow. Although there are many parallel words, there are also scattered lines, reasoning and narrative, which can be said to be Yan Zhitui's practice of advocating the reform of literary style in his whole life. As for the idea of reforming the style of writing, Yan Zhitui thinks that the ideological content in the article is the most important, such as the heart and kidney of the same person, which is the thing inside, which is the origin. As for allusions (meaning) and rhetoric (magnificence), such as the skin and crown of the same person, which is the thing outside, which is the end. At that time, scholars tended to abandon the original, focusing on the use of new and ingenious dictionaries and gorgeous rhetoric, while ignoring or even damaging the ideological content, resulting in the disadvantages of "words win but reason subdue" and "things are complicated but talent lose". In this regard, Yan Zhitui advocated to follow the ancients in order to correct the shortcomings of the prose.

In terms of educational methods, Yan Zhitui advocates the combination of caring for children and educating children, and attaches importance to the role of parents as role models for their children. In terms of educational thought, Yan Zhitui advocated lifelong learning. He not only emphasized the importance of children's early education, but also put forward the thought of late learning, which is still of great guiding significance to the present age. In terms of learning content, Yan Zhitui opposed the practice of scholar bureaucrats' satiety, contempt of skills and ignorance of skills, advocated "practical learning", and advocated that feudal intellectuals should contact with the real life of society, learn the knowledge of practical use, and learn the knowledge of agricultural production.

Character evaluation

Li Yanshou of the Tang Dynasty: the ancient people's precious name is immortal, and Gai Chongyan still exists. Wang Bao, Yu Xin, Yan Zhitui, Yu Shiji, Liu Jian, Xu Shanxin, Ming Kerang, Liu Zhen, Wang Zhen, Yu Chuo, Wang Zhou, etc. are well-known in the south of China. In addition, they are also famous for their talent, which makes them valuable and appropriate. How can we achieve self-sufficiency when we live in a common place. And its spirit snake can grasp, Tiangang all Dun, and make Xiangsu, xianguan words forest. Although its position can be down, its body can be killed, thousands of years away, how noble and humble. It's not this way. Who can? It's not necessary to be an ordinary person! (Northern history, vol.83, biographies, No.71, Wenyuan)

In the Tang Dynasty, Yan Zhitui, the servant of Huangmen in the Northern Qi Dynasty, was a scholar of excellent talent, with high mountains and deep seas. She was a member of the Huangmen court and a famous scholar. (preface to Yan's family precepts)

Shen Kui of Southern Song Dynasty: Yan Huangmen's learning is excellent and profound. (postscript to Yan's family precepts)

Yao fan of the Qing Dynasty: Yan Jiesheng was defeated by his uncle in the past. He was exiled. He was captured by Emperor Wanzhuan. He was a ghost in danger. The tragedy of the three generations was played in chaliao. In his late work Guani Shengfu, he said: "Xiang Shi is willing to be a man of Mu without studying. He can't learn sword without studying. He can't use his palm to anoint his body. He can't use a pearl to live in poverty. Yao and Shun can't use their simplicity, but Jie and Zhou can't pollute their dust From then on? This is my office

Chinese PinYin : Yan Zhi Tui