Yan Shigu (Chinese: 顏師古; Wade–Giles: Yen Shih-ku) (581–645), formal name Yan Zhou (顏籀), but went by the courtesy name of Shigu, was a famous Chinese historian, linguist, politician, and writer of the Tang dynasty.
| Yan Shigu | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 顏師古 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 颜师古 | ||||||||
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Biography
editYan was born in Wannian (萬年, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi). His ancestors were originally from Langya (modern-day Linyi, Shandong). Yan's grandfather Yan Zhitui was an official under the Northern Qi. After the fall of Northern Qi, Zhitui became an official of the Northern Zhou, and moved his family to Guanzhong. His son Yan Silu, Yan's father, was also an official, and served in the residence of Li Shimin, future Emperor Taizong.
Yan was well-read during his youth and was familiar with philology. Recommended by Li Gang (李綱), he was given a post at Anyang county (now Xiangyang, Hubei) during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui. One of his father's old friends, Xue Daoheng (薛道衡), was impressed by Yan's talent, and often asked for his comments on his new works. For some reason, Yan Shigu was later dismissed, and took up residence at Chang'an. During the next ten years, he lived in poverty and taught for a living. He was later granted several important official posts during the Tang dynasty. Yan was promoted when Li Shimin ascended the throne, but resumed his duty after his mother's funeral.
After years of struggle, Yan was then demoted, but was subsequently ordered to revise the Five Classics in the imperial library. He wrote commentaries on several Chinese classic texts such as the Shiji and the Book of Han. According to the New Book of Tang, he died on the road during an expedition to Goguryeo in 645.
Ancestors and descendants
editYan Zhitui's father was Yan Xie (颜协; 498 - 539[1]). Yan Xie's father was Yan Jianyuan.
Yan Yuansun (顏元孫, the author of Ganlu Zishu), Yan Zhenqing and Yan Gaoqing (颜杲卿, official of Tang dynasty and cousin of Yan Zhenqing) were Yan Shigu's descendant.
References
edit- ^ According to Yan Xie's biography in Book of Liang, he was 42 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. (大同五年，卒，时年四十二。) Liang Shu, vol.50. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 498.
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 73 [1]
- New Book of Tang, vol. 198 [2]
External links
edit- Author List for Yan Shigu at The Ricca Institute Library
- Works by Yan Shigu at Project Gutenberg