Wei Dan

Wei Dan

Wei Dan (year of birth and death unknown), word Yan deep, Julu County under Quyang County (now Hebei Jin county). Minister of the Northern Qi and Sui dynasties, the son of Wei Jijing, the chief minister of the Northern Qi Dynasty.

Known as the surname of Zhu, he has been engaged in literature. He was early and lonely, devoted to study, learned about classics and history, and was good at writing. At the beginning of his official career in the Northern Qi Dynasty, he was a scholar of the book of the Middle Kingdom, and was involved in the study of national history. In the Northern Zhou Dynasty, he was Sergeant Nayan. Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty received Zen and moved to work as a writer except the prince. He wrote Yu Xinji and Xiaoyuan. Later, Wei Shu, written by Wei Shou, was falsely praised and criticized, and the zhongxingshu was painted in a flat way, which was not in accordance with the preface. It was called "good" when it was called "history of Wei" by Zhao Dan. There are twenty volumes of essays.

Life of the characters

Wei Dan, Yan Shen, is Wei Shou's cousin. When he lost his father at the age of 15, he devoted himself to his studies and was good at writing. As an official in the Northern Qi Dynasty, he served as a royal censor in the palace, and participated in the revision of the five rites and the writing of Yulan. He also served as Dian Zhonglang and Zhongshu Sheren, and wrote national history with Li Delin. After entering the Northern Zhou Dynasty, he served as Sergeant Nayan. In the early Sui Dynasty, he served as the Minister of rites of Xingtai. Soon, he served as the envoy to Nanchen. After returning, he served as the prince. Yang Yong, the deposed crown prince, paid great attention to him. He annotated Yu Xinji and compiled Xiaoyuan. People praised him for his erudition. He was promoted to Zhuolang and was still the prince's bachelor.
Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty thought that the praise and criticism in the book of later Wei written by Wei Shou were untrue, and the narrative of the book of Zhongxing written by Pinghua was chaotic. He ordered Wei Dan to write another history of Wei. From the beginning of emperor Daowu to the end of emperor Gongdi, Wei Dan wrote a total of 78 biographies in twelve periods, and another volume of historical theory and common rules, a total of 92 volumes. He said: "I heard that the son of heaven is under heaven's command, so we should never call them by name. Therefore, it is said in the biography of Guliang: "we can't say the emperor's name." "Qu Li" also says: "we can't say the origin of the emperor, we can't say the names of the princes." The princes could not write their names, let alone the emperor? If it's the emperor, you have to write their names. It's because the son's name is inherited from his father. It's in line with the requirements of etiquette to call his son's name in front of his father. As for the princes of Zhou Dynasty written by Sima Qian in historical records, they all wrote their names, while the princes of Han Dynasty all avoided their names, which means that they respected the present age, despised the former dynasty and did their best to serve as ministers. I don't think it's reasonable for him to make this rule. Why? It is because in the spring and Autumn Annals and the book of rites, the name of the prince must be written, while the name of the emperor is not given, which is determined by Confucius. The appellation of the emperor can not be different only according to the contemporary and the previous dynasties. In the historical books written by Ban Gu, Fan Ye, Chen Shou, Wang Yin and Shen Yue, the titles of emperors are different, which reverses the position of superiority and inferiority. As for Wei Shou's Hou Wei Shu, it is even more serious to avoid the name of the prince and write the name of the emperor. In the history of Wei, the name of the emperor and the name of the prince are taboo. The purpose of this book is to distinguish the different positions of the monarch and his ministers. It is made according to the requirements of the spring and Autumn Annals.
"Before pingwen emperor, the emperors of Wei Dynasty were all tribal chiefs. Taizu Tuoba Wang GUI went back to the twenty-eight dynasties and tried his best to raise their position, which violated the laws and regulations of Yao and Shun and exceeded the etiquette set by the Duke of Zhou. Emperor Daowu was born in the knot rope chronicle, no civilized nation, did not learn the Central Plains of the rules and regulations, so it needs to be corrected by the historian who dares to write straight as Dong Nan. However, Wei Shou covered up his mistakes for him, so that future generations could continue to repeat them? However, it is quite appropriate for Liwei to be honored as the ancestor of the Tuoba family. Emperor pingwen and Emperor Zhaocheng occupied the northern part of the great wall and gradually became powerful. The great cause of the Central Plains in the southern part of the Great Wall began at this time. The eldest Sun Jin launched a rebellion and fought in the palace. The prince was killed in the crisis, and shiyiqian, Emperor Zhaocheng, saved his life. The empress of emperor Daowu's Tuoba Wang GUI was pregnant at this time. The ancestral temple was preserved, and the country had a monarch. Her outstanding contributions and filial piety were really presented here. These three emperors are praiseworthy. Besides, I dare not ask.
* "king of heaven died in Mount Li", "Li Wang fled to the land". The history books were not concealed and written down. They wanted to encourage and punish evil and leave behind lessons for future generations. Emperor Taiwu and Emperor Xianwen both died of unnatural death. However, in the book of the later Wei Dynasty written for them by Wei Shou, the abnormal death was only revealed in the middle of the text, but the name of the murderer who killed the Lord and betrayed the king was not revealed. How can those disorderly subjects and thieves be afraid in the future? In my history book, they were killed without any cover up.
"Since the royal family of the Western Jin Dynasty lost the morality of governing the country, the world fell apart. All the heroes are called kings and emperors, and they set up their own officials to establish their own country. They live to attack each other like enemies, and die like ordinary people. All the heroes who live in China are written as pawns when they die, just like those who dominate the south of the Yangtze River. "
Wei Dan also thinks that "since Sima Qian founded the historical books of biography, he wrote different historical books, no matter good or bad people, he made comments for them. No matter how much the biographer's life and deeds are, they are written into the official history. If things are not typical, they will not play a role in persuading and punishing future generations. Moreover, the narration is just like the inscription, which is repetitive and complicated. Zuo Qiuming had the talent of being a sub saint. He expounded the thoughts of the saints and put forward the "gentleman's words" appropriately. He also expressed his views on ordinary things. The history of Wei, which I wrote, is privately imitating Zuo Qiuming. Those who can play a role in admonishing the world will talk about their merits and demerits; those who can't help the world won't talk about them. " Emperor Wen said good after seeing it. He died soon.

Character evaluation

Wei Zheng et al: Ming Ke rang, Wei Dan et al. Were erudite and knowledgeable, and their words were elegant. They were known as the Junzhi of Yan Dynasty and Zhao Dynasty, but actually called the beauty of Southeast Asia. Where you see treasure, you take the position of salary. Although you don't have to go to an unnatural place, there is something in the way of covering. Danzhi's "Wei Shu" was called JianZheng at that time, and the regulations were detailed, which was handed down later. In addition, each of them has his own account. Although the Tao is small or big, they all aspire to make a speech.

Main achievements

At the beginning of the Northern Qi Dynasty, he served as a royal censor in the palace. He practiced five rites with Wei Shou, Yang Xiuzhi and Xiong Ansheng and wrote Yulan. When the book was finished, he moved to the middle of the country. Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty was in the same position as Sergeant Nayan. In the Sui Dynasty, he served as a minister of rites in Xingtai, a regular official in Sanqi, and was transferred to the prince Sheren. A few years later, he moved to write a history of Wei.

Relative members

Grandfather: Wei Luan, the governor of Guangzhou in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. father: Wei Jijing, the great Minister of the Northern Qi Dynasty; son: Wei Xinyan, quite famous. His younger brother: Wei yanxuan, who has literature, has been in charge of the office of Yangzhou government and the Sima of Hezhou

personal works

Wei Shi, Xiao Yuan, CI Lin Ji

Chinese PinYin : Wei Dan