Volume 83 Biographies 71: Men of Letters

列傳第七十一文苑

Biography 71: Men of Letters

溫子升荀濟祖鴻勳李廣樊遜荀士遜王褒庾信顏之推弟之儀虞世基柳許善心李文博明克讓劉臻諸葛潁王貞虞綽王胄庾自直潘徽常德志尹式劉善經祖君彥孔德紹劉斌

Wen Zisheng, Xun Ji, Zu Hongxun, Li Guang, Fan Xun, Xun Shisun, Wang Bao, Yu Xin, Yan Zhitui, his younger brother Zhiyi, Yu Shiji, Liu Guyan, Xu Shanxin, Li Wenbo, Ming Kerang, Liu Zhen, Zhuge Ying, Wang Zhen, Yu Chuo, Wang Zhou, Yu Zizhi, Pan Hui, Chang Dezhi, Yin Shi, Liu Shanqing, Zu Junyan, Kong Deshao, and Liu Bin

《易》曰：「觀乎天文，以察時變；觀乎人文，以化成天下。」然則文之為用其大矣哉！逖聽三古，彌綸百代，若乃《墳》、《素》所紀，靡得而雲；《典》、《謨》已降，遺風可述。至於制禮作樂，騰實飛聲，善乎。言之不文，行之豈能遠也。是以曲阜之多才多藝，監二代以正其源；闕里之性與天道，修《六經》以維其末。用能窮神知化，稱首於千古；經邦緯俗，藏用於百代。至哉，斯固聖人之述作也。逮乎兩周道喪，七十義乖。淹中、稷下，八儒、三墨之異，漆園、黍穀，名、法、兵、農之別，雖雅誥奧義，或未盡善，考其遺跡，亦賢達之流乎。其離讒放逐之臣，塗窮後門之士，道晳感軻而未遇，志鬱抑而不申。憤激委約之中，飛文魏闕之下，奮迅泥滓，自致青雲，振沈溺於一朝，流風聲於千載者往往而有矣。

The Book of Changes says, "Look to the patterns of Heaven to discern how the seasons shift; look to the patterns of human culture to civilize and perfect the world." How vast, then, is the office of literature! Listening back through the three antiquities and spanning a hundred generations, what the Fen and Su annals record cannot even be put into words; but from the Canon and Counsels onward, surviving traditions may still be told. When it comes to establishing rites and composing music, giving substance wings and sending fame aloft—how fine that is. If words lack polish, how can deeds travel far? Thus the master of manifold gifts at Qufu, surveying the two dynasties to set the source aright; he whose nature was one with Heaven's Way in Que Li, editing the Six Classics to secure what lay downstream. By this he plumbed the spirit and grasped transformation, standing foremost through the ages; ordering the realm and weaving the customs, his influence stored away for a hundred generations. Supreme indeed—such is the literary work of the sage. By the time of the Eastern and Western Zhou the Way had waned, and the meanings of the seventy disciples had fallen out of accord. At Yanzhong and Jixia the eight Ru schools and three Mo lines contended; in the Lacquer Garden and Millet Valley the schools of Names, Law, War, and Agriculture parted ways. Though their elegant edicts and abstruse doctrines were not always flawless, judged by what they left behind, were they not men of talent and distinction as well? Ministers driven out by slander, scholars whose road ended at a humble gate, men like Qu Yuan, stirred by Ke's example yet never received, their ambitions choked off and never voiced— in the heat of resentment and the pinch of poverty, they sent their writings up to the imperial court; shaking off the mud they climbed to the clouds on their own, lifting the drowning in a single day and leaving a reputation that flowed through a thousand years—such cases were by no means rare.

漢自孝武之後，雅尚斯文，揚葩振藻者如林，而二馬、王、楊為之傑。東京之朝，茲道逾扇，咀徵含商者成市，而班、傅、張、蔡為之雄。當塗受命，尤好蟲篆；金行勃興，無替前烈。曹、王、陳、阮負宏衍之思，挺棟幹于鄧林；潘、陸、張、左擅侈麗之才，飾羽儀於鳳穴。斯並高視當世，連衡孔門。雖時運推移，質文屢變，譬猶六代並奏，易俗之用無爽；九源競逐，一致之理同歸。曆選前英，于斯為盛。既而中州板蕩，戎狄交侵，僭偽相屬，生靈塗炭，故文章黜焉。其能潛思於戰爭之間，揮翰於鋒鏑之下，亦有時而間出矣。若乃魯徵、杜廣、徐光、尹弼之儔，知名于二趙；宋該、封弈、硃彤、梁讜之屬，見重于燕、秦。然皆迫於倉卒，牽于戰陣，章奏符檄，則粲然可觀；體物緣情，則寂寥於世。非其才有優劣，時運然也。至於朔方之地，蕞爾夷俗，胡義周之頌國都，足稱宏麗。區區河右，而學者埒于中原，劉延明之銘酒泉，可謂清典。子曰：「十室之邑，必有忠信。」豈徒言哉。

After Emperor Wu of Han, refined letters were held in esteem; writers who unfurled blossoms of style stood thick as a wood, yet the two Mas, Wang, and Yang were its foremost masters. Under the Eastern Han the fashion spread ever wider; masters of tone and measure crowded the age, and Ban, Fu, Zhang, and Cai stood at its head. When Wei received the Mandate, it especially favored ornate, archaic diction; and when the Jin dynasty rose in turn, it did not fall short of what had come before. Cao, Wang, Chen, and Ruan carried far-reaching minds, standing like great trunks in the Deng Grove; while Pan, Lu, Zhang, and Zuo excelled in opulent brilliance, decking out their plumage at the phoenix's roost. All looked down upon their contemporaries and measured themselves against the Confucian tradition. Though fortune shifted and substance and ornament changed again and again, it was like the six modes played together—the power to transform custom remained unimpaired; nine streams racing side by side, yet all converged on one underlying truth. Surveying the masters of earlier ages, none surpassed this age in brilliance. Then the heartland was torn apart, barbarians raided from every side, pretenders rose in succession, and the people were left in ashes—so literature itself was pushed aside. Yet men who could compose in the midst of war and write under crossing blades still appeared, now and then. Men such as Lu Zheng, Du Guang, Xu Guang, and Yin Bi won renown in the two Zhao realms; while Song Gai, Feng Yi, Zhu Tong, Liang Tan, and their like were held in honor in Yan and Qin. Yet all were driven by urgency and tied to the battlefield: their memorials, edicts, and dispatches could be brilliant; yet in descriptive and lyrical verse they were nearly absent from the age. This was not a matter of better or worse talent, but of what the times allowed. Even on the northern frontier, in what was only a petty barbarian culture, Hu Yizhou's hymn to the capital was truly magnificent. In the modest lands west of the River, scholars could rival those of the central plain; Liu Yanming's inscription for Jiuquan may be called refined and authoritative. The Master said, "In a hamlet of ten households there are sure to be men of loyalty and integrity." Was that an empty saying?

洎乎有魏，定鼎沙朔。南包河、淮，西吞關、隴。當時之士，有許謙、崔巨集、巨集子浩、高允、高閭、遊雅等，先後之間，聲實俱茂，詞義典正，有永嘉之遺烈焉。及太和在運，銳情文學，固以頡頏漢徹，跨躡曹丕，氣韻高遠，豔藻獨構。衣冠仰止，咸慕新風，律調頗殊，曲度遂改。辭罕泉源，言多胸臆，潤古雕今，有所未遇。是故雅言麗則之奇，綺合繡聯之美，眇曆歲年，未聞獨得。既而陳郡袁翻、河內常景，晚拔疇類，稍革其風。及明皇禦曆，文雅大盛，學者如牛毛，成者如麟角。孔子曰：「才難。」不其然也？于時陳郡袁翻、翻弟躍、河東裴敬憲、弟莊伯、莊伯族弟伯茂、范陽盧觀、弟仲宣、頓丘李諧、勃海高肅、河間邢臧、趙國李騫，雕琢瓊瑤，刻削杞梓，並為龍光，俱稱鴻翼。樂安孫彥舉、濟陰溫子升，並自孤寒，鬱然特起。咸能綜采繁縟，興屬清華。比于建安之徐、陳、應、劉，元元之潘、張、左、束，各一時也。

When Wei arose, it established its capital in the northern sands. To the south it took in the Yellow and Huai; to the west it absorbed Guan and Long. Among the scholars of that age were Xu Qian, Cui Hong, Hong's son Hao, Gao Yun, Gao Lu, You Ya, and others. One after another their reputation and achievement flourished together; their language was canonical and correct, carrying forward the legacy of the Yongjia period. When the Taihe era arrived, literary ambition sharpened; it could truly rival Han Wudi and stride past Cao Pi, with a spirit lofty and far-reaching and a gorgeous style all its own. The educated elite looked up in admiration and all sought the new fashion; tonal rules shifted markedly, and musical patterns were remade. Their diction seldom drew from deep springs; their words came mostly from the heart. In refining antiquity and shaping the present, something was still missing. Thus the marvel of elegant diction and polished form, the beauty of brocade joined and embroidery linked—for many years no single master was heard of. Later Yuan Fan of Chen and Chang Jing of Henei, rising late among their peers, gradually changed this fashion. When Emperor Ming took the throne, letters flourished exceedingly; students were as numerous as ox-hairs, but finished masters as rare as unicorn horns. Confucius said, "Talent is hard to find." Was that not exactly the case? At that time Yuan Fan of Chen, his brother Yue, Pei Jingxian of Hedong, his brothers Zhuangbo and Bomao, Lu Guan of Fanyang and his brother Zhongxuan, Li Xie of Dunqiu, Gao Su of Bohai, Xing Zang of Hejian, and Li Qian of Zhao—all carving fine jade and shaping choice timber—shone like dragon light and were hailed as great wings. Sun Yanju of Le'an and Wen Zisheng of Jiyin both rose from obscure poverty and flourished with sudden distinction. All could weave together rich ornament and lift themes of pure elegance. They may be compared with the Xu, Chen, Ying, and Liu of the Jian'an period, or the Pan, Zhang, Zuo, and Shu of the Western Jin—each the voice of an age.

有齊自霸業雲啟，廣延髦俊，開四門以賓之，頓八紘以掩之。鄴都之下，煙霏霧集。河間邢子才、钜鹿魏伯起、范陽盧元明、钜鹿魏季景、清河崔長儒、河間邢子明、范陽祖孝徵、中山杜輔玄、北平陽子烈並其流也。復有范陽祖鴻勳，亦參文士之列。及天保中，李愔、陸仰、崔瞻、陸元規並在中書，參掌綸誥。其李廣、樊遜、李德林、盧詢祖、盧思道始以文章著名。皇建之朝，常侍王晞獨擅其美。河清、天統之辰，杜台卿、劉逖、魏騫亦參詔敕。自李愔已下，在省唯撰述除官詔旨，其關涉軍國文翰，多是魏收作之。及在武平，李若、荀士遜、李德林、薛道衡並為中書侍郎，典司綸綍。

When Northern Qi began its hegemony like clouds unfolding, it widely gathered eminent men, opening the four gates to receive them and drawing in the whole realm. Beneath the capital at Ye, talents gathered thick as mist. Xing Zicai of Hejian, Wei Boqi of Julu, Lu Yuanming of Fanyang, Wei Jijing of Julu, Cui Changru of Qinghe, Xing Ziming of Hejian, Zu Xiaozheng of Fanyang, Du Fuxuan of Zhongshan, and Yang Zilie of Beiping were all of this company. Zu Hongxun of Fanyang also joined the ranks of literary men. By the Tianbao era, Li Yin, Lu Yang, Cui Zhan, and Lu Yuangui all served in the Secretariat, drafting imperial edicts. Li Guang, Fan Xun, Li Delin, Lu Xunzu, and Lu Sidao first won fame through their writings. In the Huangjian reign, Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Xi alone held the palm in literary excellence. In the Heqing and Tiantong eras, Du Taiqing, Liu Ti, and Wei Qian also helped draft imperial edicts. From Li Yin downward, those in the Secretariat chiefly drafted appointment edicts; documents touching military and state affairs were mostly written by Wei Shou. By the Wuping era, Li Ruo, Xun Shisun, Li Delin, and Xue Daheng all served as Vice Directors of the Secretariat, overseeing the drafting of edicts.

後主雖溺於群小，然頗好詠詩，幼時嘗讀詩賦，語人云：「終有解作此理不？」初因畫屏風，敕通直郎蕭放及晉陵王孝式錄古賢烈士及近代輕豔諸詩以充圖畫，帝彌重之。後復追齊州錄事參軍蕭愨、趙州功曹參軍顏之推同入撰錄，猶依霸朝，謂之館客。放及之推意欲更廣其事，又因祖珽輔政，愛重之推，又托鄧長顒漸說後主，屬意斯文。三年，祖珽奏立文林館，於是更召引文學士，謂之待詔文林館焉。珽又奏撰《御覽》，詔珽及特進魏收、太子太師徐之才、中書令崔劼、散騎常侍張凋、中書監陽休之監撰。珽等奏追通直散騎侍郎韋道遜、陸乂、太子舍人王劭、衛尉丞李孝基、殿中侍御史魏澹、中散大夫劉仲威、袁奭、國子博士硃才、奉車都尉眭道閑、考功郎中崔子樞、左外兵郎薛道衡、並省主客郎中盧思道、司空東閣祭酒崔德立、太傅行參軍崔儦、太學博士諸葛漢、奉朝請鄭公超、殿中侍御史鄭子信等入館撰書，並敕放、愨、之推等同入撰例。復命散騎常侍封孝琰、前樂陵太守鄭元禮、衛尉少卿杜台卿、通直散騎常侍楊訓、前南兗州長史羊肅、通直散騎侍郎馬元熙、並省三公郎中劉瑉、開府行參軍李師上、溫君悠入館，亦令撰書。後復命特進崔季舒、前仁州刺史劉逖、散騎常侍李孝貞、中書侍郎李德林續入待詔。尋又詔諸人各舉所知。又有前濟州長史李翥、前廣武太守魏謇、前西兗州司馬蕭溉、前幽州長史陸仁惠、鄭州司馬江旰、前通直散騎侍郎辛德源、陸開明、通直郎封孝騫、太尉掾張德沖、並省右戶郎元行恭、司徒戶曹參軍古道子、前司空功曹參軍劉顗、獲嘉令崔德儒、給事中李元楷、晉州中從事陽師孝、太尉中兵參軍劉儒行、司空祭酒陽辟疆、司公士曹參軍盧公順、司空中兵參軍周子深、開府行參軍王友伯、崔君洽、魏師謇併入館待詔。又敕僕射段孝言亦入焉。《御覽》成後，所撰錄人亦有不得待詔，付所司處分者。凡此諸人，亦有文學膚淺，附會親識，妄相推薦者十三四焉。雖然，當時操筆之徒，搜求略盡。其外如廣平宋孝王、信都劉善經輩三數人，論其才性，入館諸賢亦十三四不逮之。

Though the Last Ruler was sunk in petty favorites, he still loved composing poetry. In youth he had read poems and rhapsodies and said to others, "Will there ever be someone who truly understands how to do this?" At first, for painted screens, he ordered Palace Gentleman Xiao Fang and Prince Xiaoshi of Jinling to collect poems of ancient worthies, martyrs, and recent light and alluring verse to accompany the pictures, and the emperor valued this all the more. Later he recalled Qizhou Recorder Xiao Que and Zhaozhou Merit Officer Yan Zhitui to join the compilation, still following the old hegemonic custom and calling them lodge guests. Fang and Zhitui wished to broaden the project further. Zu Ting, then regent, cherished Zhitui, and through Deng Changying gradually persuaded the Last Ruler to turn his heart to letters. In the third year Zu Ting memorialized to establish the Forest of Letters Lodge, and literary scholars were again summoned as attendants-at-court of that lodge. Ting also memorialized to compile the Imperial Overview. An edict appointed Ting, Special Advance Wei Shou, Grand Tutor of the Heir Xu Zhicai, Director of the Secretariat Cui Jie, Regular Attendant Zhang Diao, and Supervisor of the Secretariat Yang Xiuzhi to supervise it. Ting and his colleagues memorialized to recall Wei Daoxun, Lu Yi, Wang Shao, Li Xiaoji, Wei Dan, Liu Zhongwei, Yuan Shang, Zhu Cai, Sui Daoxian, Cui Zishu, Xue Daheng, Lu Sidao, Cui Deli, Cui Yi, Zhuge Han, Zheng Gongchao, Zheng Zixin, and others to enter the lodge and compile books, and also ordered Fang, Que, and Zhitui to join the project on the same terms. They were again ordered to summon Feng Xiaoyan, former Administrator of Leling Zheng Yuanli, Vice Commandant Du Taiqing, Yang Xun, former Chief Clerk of Southern Yanzhou Yang Su, Ma Yuanxi, Liu Min, Li Shishang, and Wen Junyou to enter the lodge and compile books as well. Later Special Advance Cui Jishu, former Inspector of Renzhou Liu Ti, Regular Attendant Li Xiaozhen, and Vice Director Li Delin were also summoned to continue as attendants-at-court. Soon an edict ordered each man to recommend those he knew. There were also Li Xu, Wei Qian, Xiao Gai, Lu Renhui, Jiang Gan, Xin Deyuan, Lu Kaiming, Feng Xiaoqian, Zhang Dechong, Yuan Xinggong, Gu Daozi, Liu Yi, Cui Deru, Li Yuanqi, Yang Shixiao, Liu Ruxing, Yang Bijiang, Lu Gongshun, Zhou Zishen, Wang Youbo, Cui Junqia, and Wei Shiqian—all brought into the lodge as attendants-at-court. An edict also ordered Vice Director Duan Xiaoyan to join them. After the Imperial Overview was completed, some compilers were not granted attendant status and were handed over to the relevant offices for disposition. Of all these men, perhaps three or four in ten had shallow learning, curried favor with kin and acquaintances, and recklessly recommended one another. Even so, the writers of the age were sought out almost to the last man. Beyond them, a few men such as Song Xiaowang of Guangping and Liu Shanqing of Xindu, judged by talent and character, were unmatched by three or four in ten of those who entered the lodge.

周氏創業，運屬陵夷，纂遺文於既喪，聘奇士如弗及。是以蘇亮、蘇綽、盧柔、唐瑾、元偉、李昶之徒，咸奮鱗翼，自致青紫。然綽之建言，務存質樸，遂糠秕魏、晉，憲章虞、夏，雖屬辭有師古之美，矯枉非適時之用，故莫能常行焉。既而革車電邁，渚宮雲撤，梁、荊之風，扇于關右，狂簡之徒，斐然成俗，流宕忘反，無所取裁。

When the Zhou house founded its enterprise in an age of decline, it gathered surviving writings after civilization had collapsed and recruited extraordinary men as though racing against time. Thus Su Liang, Su Chuo, Lu Rou, Tang Jin, Yuan Wei, Li Chang, and their like all spread their wings and rose to high office on their own. Yet Chuo's proposals aimed at plainness and simplicity; he rejected Wei and Jin as chaff and took Yu and Xia as his model. Though his diction had the beauty of honoring antiquity, such correction was ill suited to the age, and so it could not endure. Then war-chariots raced like lightning and the palace on the isle vanished like clouds; the styles of Liang and Jing swept west of the Pass, and reckless, shallow writers flourished into custom, drifting without return and beyond restraint.

夫人有六情，稟五常之秀；情感六氣，順四時之序。蓋文之所起，情發於中。而自漢、魏以來，迄乎晉、宋，其體屢變，前哲論之詳矣。暨永明、天監之際，太和、天保之間，洛陽、江左，文雅尤盛，彼此好尚，互有異同。江左宮商發越，貴於清綺；河朔詞義貞剛，重乎氣質。氣質則理勝其詞，清綺則文過其意。理深者便於時用，文華者宜於詠歌。此其南北詞人得失之大較也。若能掇彼清音，簡茲累句，各去所短，合其兩長，則文質彬彬，盡美盡善矣。

Human beings possess the six emotions and partake of the excellence of the five constants; and emotion responds to the six qi, following the sequence of the four seasons. Writing arises because feeling bursts forth from within. From Han and Wei down to Jin and Song, its forms changed again and again, as earlier critics have discussed at length. By the Yongming and Tianjian eras, and between the Taihe and Tianbao reigns, Luoyang and the south of the Yangtze saw letters flourish especially, yet their tastes differed in important ways. South of the Yangtze, tonal patterns soared and pure elegance was prized; while north of the River, diction and meaning were steadfast and firm, stressing vital substance. Where substance prevailed, principle outweighed ornament; where elegance prevailed, ornament exceeded intent. Depth of principle served timely use; florid writing suited song and chant. Such was the broad comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of poets north and south. If one could gather those pure tones and simplify these encumbered lines, each side discarding its weakness and combining its strengths, then substance and ornament would be balanced and perfection attained.

梁自大同之後，雅道淪缺，漸乖典則，爭馳新巧。簡文、湘東啟其淫放，徐陵、庾信分路揚鑣。其意淺而繁，其文匿而彩，詞尚輕險，情多哀思，格以延陵之聽，蓋亦亡國之音也。

From the Datong era onward in Liang, the elegant Way collapsed, norms were gradually abandoned, and men raced after new cleverness. Emperor Jianwen and the Prince of Xiangdong opened the way to licentious excess; Xu Ling and Yu Xin went their separate ways. Their ideas were shallow yet elaborate, their writing ornate yet insubstantial; diction favored lightness and peril, feeling mostly mournful—judged by the standards of the ancients, this was music fit for a dying state.

隋文初統萬機，每念斫凋為樸，發號施令，咸去浮華。然時俗詞藻、猶多淫麗；故憲台執法，屢飛霜簡。煬帝初習藝文，有非輕側，暨乎即位，一變其體。《與越公書》、《建東都詔》、《冬至受朝詩》及《擬飲馬長城窟》，並存雅體，歸於典制，雖意在驕淫，而詞無浮蕩。故當時綴文之士，遂得依而取正焉。所謂能言者未必能行，蓋亦君子不以人廢言也。

When Emperor Wen of Sui first took the reins of government, he often thought of cutting ornament back to plainness; in issuing orders and commands, he stripped away florid display. Yet the diction of the age still tended toward licentious splendor; Hence the censorate upheld the law, sending down indictments again and again. In his early years Emperor Yang studied literature, and some of his work was light and unbalanced; once he took the throne, he changed his style entirely. His Letter to the Duke of Yue, Edict on Building the Eastern Capital, Poem on Receiving Court at the Winter Solstice, and After "Drinking Horses at the Long Wall Cavern" all kept an elegant style and fit canonical form; though his intent was arrogant and dissolute, his diction was not florid or unmoored. Writers of the time could therefore take them as standards and set their course accordingly. As the saying goes, those who speak well do not necessarily act well—yet a gentleman does not reject words because of the man who spoke them.

爰自東帝歸秦，逮乎青蓋入洛，四隩咸暨，九州攸同。江、漢英靈，燕、趙奇俊，並該天綱之中，俱為大國之寶。言刈其楚，片善無遺，潤水圓流，不能十數，才之難也，不其然乎。時之文人，見稱當世者，則齊人范陽盧思道、安平李德林、河東薛道衡、趙郡李元操、钜鹿魏澹，陳人會稽虞世基、河東柳{巧言}、高陽許善心等，或鷹揚河朔，或獨步漢南，俱騁龍光，並驅雲路矣。

From the Eastern Emperor's submission to Qin until the Jin emperor's entry into Luoyang, the four corners of the realm were brought in, and the nine provinces were united. Talented men from the Yangtze and Han regions and remarkable figures from Yan and Zhao—all fell within the imperial net and were alike treasures of great states. Though one could gather every scrap of merit as when harvesting Chu, the rounded stream of talent could not fill even ten vessels—is it not that ability is scarce? The writers of the age who won renown in their own time included, from Northern Qi, Lu Sidao of Fanyang, Li Delin of Anping, Xue Daoheng of Hedong, Li Yuancao of Zhao commandery, and Wei Dan of Julu; from Chen, Yu Shiji of Kuaiji, Liu Guyan of Hedong, and Xu Shanxin of Gaoyang, among others—some soared over the Hebei region, some stood alone south of the Han; all alike displayed outstanding brilliance and advanced along the high road of fame.

《魏書》序袁躍、裴敬憲、盧觀、封肅、邢臧、裴伯茂、邢昕、溫子升為《文苑傳》，今唯取子升，其餘並各附其家傳。《齊書》敘祖鴻勳、李廣、樊遜、劉逖、荀士遜、顏之推為《文苑傳》，今唯取祖、李、樊、荀，其餘亦各附其家傳。《周書》不立此傳，今取王褒、庾信列於此篇。顏之推竟從齊入周，故列在王、庾之下。顏之儀既之推之弟，故列在之推之末。《隋書》序劉臻、崔儦、王頍、諸葛潁、王貞、孫萬壽、虞綽、王胄、庾自直、潘徽為《文學傳》，今檢崔儦、王頍、孫萬壽各從其家傳，其餘編之此篇，並取虞世基、許善心、柳{巧言}、明克讓冠之於此，以備《文苑傳》云。

The Book of Wei placed Yuan Yue, Pei Jingxian, Lu Guan, Feng Su, Xing Zang, Pei Bimao, Xing Xin, and Wen Zisheng in the Garden of Letters biography; here only Zisheng is included, while the rest are each placed in their family biographies. The Book of Qi included Zu Hongxun, Li Guang, Fan Xun, Liu Ti, Xun Shisun, and Yan Zhitui in the Garden of Letters biography; here only Zu, Li, Fan, and Xun are included, while the rest are likewise placed in their family biographies. The Book of Zhou did not include such a biography; here Wang Bao and Yu Xin are placed in this chapter. Yan Zhitui eventually went from Qi into Zhou, and is therefore listed below Wang and Yu. Yan Zhiyi was Zhitui's younger brother and is therefore listed immediately after him. The Book of Sui placed Liu Zhen, Cui Ti, Wang Yi, Zhuge Ying, Wang Zhen, Sun Wanshou, Yu Chuo, Wang Zhou, Yu Zizhi, and Pan Hui in the Literary Writings biography; on review, Cui Ti, Wang Yi, and Sun Wanshou are each given in their family biographies, while the rest are compiled in this chapter; Yu Shiji, Xu Shanxin, Liu Guyan, and Ming Kerang are also placed at the head here to complete the Garden of Letters biography.

溫子升，字鵬舉，自雲太原人，晉大將軍嶠之後也。世居江左。祖恭之，宋彭城王義康戶曹，避難歸魏，家于濟陰冤句，因為其郡縣人焉。父暉，兗州左將軍長史，行濟陰郡事。

Wen Zisheng, courtesy name Pengju, claimed descent from Taiyuan and from the Jin Grand General Wen Jiao. His family had lived south of the Yangtze for generations. His grandfather Gongzhi served as registrar in the household of Liu Yikang, Prince of Pengcheng of Song; fleeing turmoil he went over to Wei and settled in Yuanqu in Jiyin, and thus became a native of that commandery and county. His father Hui was chief clerk to the Left General of Yan province and acted as administrator of Jiyin commandery.

子升初受學于崔靈恩、劉蘭。精勤，以夜繼晝，晝夜不倦。長乃博覽百家，文章清婉。為廣陽王深賤客，在馬坊教諸奴子書。作《侯山祠堂碑文》，常景見而善之，故詣深謝之。景曰：「頃見溫生。」深怪問之。景曰：「溫生是大才士。」深由是稍知之。

Zisheng first studied under Cui Lin'en and Liu Lan. He studied with tireless diligence, continuing through the night into day without ever tiring. When he came of age he read widely among the hundred schools, and his writing was clear and graceful. He became a low-ranking retainer to Prince Shen of Guangyang and in the horse stables taught the household slaves to read. He wrote the Stele Inscription for the Hou Mountain Ancestral Shrine; Chang Jing saw it and admired it, and therefore went to Shen to express his thanks. Jing said, "I recently saw Master Wen. Shen was puzzled and questioned him about it. Jing said, "Master Wen is a man of great talent. From this Shen gradually came to know of him.

熙平初，中尉、東平王匡博召辭人以充御史。同時射策者八百餘人，子升與盧仲宣、孫搴等二十四人為高第。於是預選者爭相引決，匡使子升當之，皆受屈而去。搴謂人曰：「朝來靡旗亂轍者，皆子升逐北。」遂補御史，時年二十二。台中彈文皆委焉。以憂去任。服闋，還為朝請。後李神俊行荊州事，引兼錄事參軍。被徽赴省，神俊表留不遣。吏部郎中李獎退表不許，曰：「昔伯瑜之不應留，王朗所以發歎。宜速遣赴，無踵彥雲前失。」於是還省。及廣陽王深為東北道行台，召為郎中。黃門郎徐紇受四方表啟，答之敏速，于深獨沈思，曰：「彼有溫郎中，才藻可畏。」高車破走，珍寶盈滿，子升取絹四十疋。深軍敗，子升為葛榮所得。榮下都督和洛興與子升舊識，以數十騎潛送子升，得達冀州。還京，李楷執其手曰：「卿今得免，足使夷甫慚德。」自是無復宦情，閉門讀書，厲精不已。

At the beginning of the Xiping era, the Commandant and Prince of Dongping, Kuang, broadly summoned men of letters to fill posts in the censorate. More than eight hundred men took the civil examination at the same time; Zisheng, together with Lu Zhongxuan, Sun Qian, and twenty-four others, received the highest grade. Those who had been pre-selected then vied to challenge him to decisive contests; Kuang had Zisheng face them, and all were defeated and withdrew. Qian said to others, "Everyone whose banners were scattered and wheels overturned this morning was driven north by Zisheng. He was then appointed censor at the age of twenty-two. Impeachment documents within the censorate were all entrusted to him. He left office to observe mourning. When the mourning period ended, he returned to service as Court Gentleman. Later, when Li Shenjun administered Jing province, he summoned Zisheng as acting recorder and staff officer. He was summoned by imperial order to the capital; Shenjun memorialized to retain him and not release him. Li Jiang, Director of the Ministry of Personnel, returned the memorial disapproved, saying, "In former days Bo Yu would not comply with being retained, and Wang Lang sighed over it. Send him quickly, and do not repeat Yan Yun's earlier mistake. Thereupon he returned to the capital. When Prince Shen of Guangyang became Commissioner of the Northeast Route, he summoned him as Gentleman of the Palace. Huangmen Gentleman Xu He received memorials and reports from the four quarters and answered them with quick facility; toward Shen alone he pondered and said, "Over there is Gentleman Wen—the brilliance of his talent is to be feared. The Gaoche were defeated and fled; precious goods filled the camp, and Zisheng took forty bolts of silk. When Shen's army was defeated, Zisheng was captured by Ge Rong. Ge Rong's subordinate commander He Luoxing was an old acquaintance of Zisheng; with several dozen horsemen he secretly escorted Zisheng until he reached Ji province. On returning to the capital, Li Kai took his hand and said, "You have now escaped—enough to make Wang Yan ashamed of his own conduct. From this time he had no further desire for office; he shut his doors and read books, refining his purpose without cease.

及孝莊即位，以子升為南主客郎中，修起居注。曾一日不直，上党王天穆時錄尚書事，將加捶撻，子升遂逃遁。天穆甚怒，奏人代之。莊帝曰：「當世才子不過數人，豈容為此便相放黜？」乃寢其奏。及天穆將討邢杲，召子升同行，子升未敢應。天穆謂人曰：「吾欲收其才用，豈懷前忿也？今復不來，便須南走越，北走胡耳！」子升不得已而見之。加伏波將軍。為行台郎中。天穆深知賞之。元顥入洛，天穆召子升問曰：「即欲向京師？為隨我北度？」對曰：「主上以武牢失守，致此狼狽。元顥新入，人情未安，今往討之，必有征無戰。王若克復京師，奉迎大駕，桓、文之舉也。舍此北度，竊為大王惜之。」天穆善之而不能用，遣子升還洛，顥以為中書舍人。莊帝還宮，為顥任使者多被廢黜，而子升復為舍人。天穆每謂子升曰：「恨不用卿前計。」除正員郎，仍舍人。及帝殺爾硃榮也，子升預謀，當時赦詔，子升詞也。榮入內，遇子升把詔書，問：「是何文字？」子升顏色不變，曰：「敕。」榮不視之。爾硃兆入洛，子升懼禍逃匿。

When Emperor Xiaozhuang came to the throne, he appointed Zisheng Gentleman of the Southern Host and ordered him to compile the imperial diary. Once he failed to attend duty for a single day; Prince Tianmu of Shangdang was then acting Director of the Imperial Secretariat and was about to have him beaten, and Zisheng fled. Tianmu was greatly angered and memorialized that another man replace him. Emperor Zhuang said, "The talented men of the age number no more than a few—how can we dismiss one for this alone? Thereupon the memorial was shelved. When Tianmu was about to campaign against Xing Geng, he summoned Zisheng to accompany him; Zisheng did not dare respond. Tianmu said to others, "I wish to employ his talent—do you think I still bear an earlier grudge? If he does not come now, he will have to flee south to Yue or north to the barbarians! Zisheng, having no alternative, went to see him. He was given the additional title General Who Subdues Waves. He served as Gentleman of the Route Commissioner. Tianmu deeply appreciated him. When Yuan Hao entered Luoyang, Tianmu summoned Zisheng and asked, "Do you intend to go at once to the capital? Or will you follow me north across the river? He replied, "The sovereign, because Wu Fortress was lost, has come to this distress. Yuan Hao has newly entered, and popular sentiment is not yet settled; if you go now to attack him, you will surely win without fighting. If my lord recovers the capital and welcomes back the imperial carriage, it will be an achievement like those of Duke Huan and Duke Wen. To abandon this and go north—I must say I lament it for my lord. Tianmu approved of this but could not adopt it; he sent Zisheng back to Luoyang, and Hao appointed him Attendant of the Secretariat. When Emperor Zhuang returned to the palace, many envoys who had served Hao were dismissed, but Zisheng again became Attendant. Tianmu often said to Zisheng, "I regret that I did not use your earlier plan. He was appointed Regular Attendant while continuing as Attendant. When the emperor killed Erzhu Rong, Zisheng took part in the plot; the amnesty edict of the time was in Zisheng's wording. When Rong entered the inner palace, he encountered Zisheng holding the edict and asked, "What writing is this? Zisheng's countenance did not change, and he said, "An imperial order." Rong did not look at it. When Erzhu Zhao entered Luoyang, Zisheng, fearing disaster, fled and hid.

永熙中為侍讀，兼舍人、鎮南將軍、金紫光祿大夫。遷散騎常侍、中軍大將軍，後領本州大中正。梁使張皋寫子升文筆，傳于江外，梁武稱之曰：「曹植、陸機復生於北土，恨我辭人，數窮百六。」陽夏守傅摽使吐谷渾，見其國主床頭有書數卷，乃是子升文也。濟陰王暉業嘗云：「江左文人，宋有顏延之、謝靈運，梁有沈約、任昉，我子升足以陵顏轢謝，含任吐沈。」楊遵彥作《文德論》，以為古今辭人皆負才遺行，澆薄險忌，唯邢子才、王元景、溫子升彬彬有德素。

In the Yongxi era he became Lecturer-in-Waiting, and concurrently Attendant, General Who Pacifies the South, and Grand Master of the Palace with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. He was promoted to Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry and Grand General of the Central Army, and later headed the provincial chief rectifier of his native commandery. The Liang envoy Zhang Gao copied out Zisheng's writings and transmitted them beyond the Yangtze; Emperor Wu of Liang praised them, saying, "Cao Zhi and Lu Ji have been reborn in the northern lands—I regret that our men of letters are so few in number. Yangxia Prefect Fu Biao was sent on mission to the Tuyuhun; he saw several scrolls of books at the head of their ruler's couch, and they were Zisheng's writings. Prince Huiye of Jiyin once said, "Among writers south of the Yangtze, Song had Yan Yanzhi and Xie Lingyun, and Liang had Shen Yue and Ren Fang; our Zisheng is enough to surpass Yan and Xie and to outdo Ren and Shen. Yang Zunyan wrote the Discourse on Literary Virtue, holding that writers ancient and modern all possessed talent yet left misconduct behind, being shallow, dissolute, and dangerously jealous—only Xing Zicai, Wang Yuanjing, and Wen Zisheng were cultivated and possessed moral substance.

齊文襄引子升為大將軍諮議。子升前為中書郎，嘗詣梁客館受國書，自以不修容止，謂人曰：「詩章易作，逋峭難為。」文襄館客元僅曰：「諸人當賀，推子升合陳辭。」子升久忸怩，乃推陸操焉。及元僅、劉思逸、荀濟等作亂，文襄疑子升知其謀。方使之作《神武碑》。文既成，乃餓諸晉陽獄，食弊襦而死。棄屍路隅，沒其家口。太尉長史宋遊道收葬之，又為集其文筆為三十五卷。

Prince Wenxiang of Qi summoned Zisheng as staff adviser to the Grand General. Zisheng had formerly been a Secretariat Gentleman and once went to the Liang guesthouse to receive the state letter; because he did not cultivate his bearing and appearance, he said to others, "Poems and essays are easy to compose; imposing presence is hard to achieve. Wenxiang's house guest Yuan Jin said, "Everyone should congratulate you—have Zisheng deliver the Chen court's address." Zisheng was long bashful and uneasy, and in the end pushed Lu Cao forward. When Yuan Jin, Liu Siyi, Xun Ji, and others rebelled, Wenxiang suspected that Zisheng knew of their plot. He was just then having him compose the Stele for Divine Might. When the text was finished, he starved him in the Jinyang prison, and he died after eating worn-out trousers. His corpse was cast by the roadside, and his household was confiscated. Song Youdao, chief clerk to the Grand Marshal, gathered his body for burial and also collected his writings into thirty-five scrolls.

子升外恬靜，與物無競，言有准的，不妄毀譽。而內深險，事故之際，好豫其間，所以終致禍敗。又撰《永安記》三卷。無子。

Outwardly Zisheng was calm and still and did not contend with others; in speech he had a standard and did not recklessly praise or blame. Inwardly he was deeply treacherous; at times of crisis he liked to insert himself among them, and for this reason he met ruin in the end. He also compiled the Record of Yong'an in three scrolls. He had no sons.

弟子盛，州主簿，有文才，年二十餘卒。

His disciple Sheng was a provincial registrar; he had literary talent and died in his twenties.

荀濟，字子通。其先潁川人，世居江左。濟初與梁武帝布衣交。知梁武當王，然負氣不服，謂人曰：「會楯上磨墨作檄文。」或稱其才于梁武，梁武曰：「此人好亂者也。」濟又上書譏佛法，言營費太甚。梁武將誅之，遂奔魏，館于崔甗家。及是見執。楊愔音謂曰：「遲暮何為然？」濟曰：「叱叱，氣耳，何關遲暮！」乃下辯曰：「自傷年幾摧頹，恐功名不立。舍兒女之情，起風雲之事，故挾天子，誅權臣。」齊文襄惜其才，將不殺，親謂曰：「荀公何意反？」濟曰：「奉詔誅將軍高澄，何為反！」於是燔殺之。鄴下士大夫多傳濟音韻。

Xun Ji, courtesy name Zitong. His ancestors were from Yingchuan, and the family had lived south of the Yangtze for generations. Ji at first was a commoner friend of Emperor Wu of Liang. Knowing that Liang Wu would become king, yet proud and unwilling to submit, he said to others, "When the time comes I shall grind ink on the meeting shield to write a proclamation against him. Someone praised his talent to Liang Wu, and Liang Wu said, "This man is one who loves disorder." Ji again submitted a memorial mocking Buddhist teachings, saying that construction expenses were excessive. When Emperor Wu of Liang was about to execute him, he fled to Northern Wei and was housed in the home of Cui Yan. At this juncture he was seized. Yang Yin said to him with feeling, "In your twilight years, why act thus? Ji said, "Tsk tsk—that is spirit alone; what has that to do with twilight years! Then he lowered his defense and said, "I grieve that my years are failing and fear that achievement and fame may never be established. Setting aside the bonds of wife and children, I raised great affairs of state; therefore I took the Son of Heaven in hand to execute powerful ministers. Wenxiang of Qi prized his talent and was about to spare him. He asked him in person, "Lord Xun, what did you mean by rebelling? Ji said, "I received the edict to execute General Gao Cheng—how is that rebellion! Thereupon he was burned to death. Many gentlemen and officials in Ye spread accounts of Ji's final words and tone.

祖鴻勳，涿郡范陽人也。父慎，仕魏，曆雁門、咸陽二郡太守，政有能名。卒于金紫光祿大夫、贈中書監、幽州刺史，諡惠侯。鴻勳弱冠，與同郡盧文符並為州主簿。僕射、臨淮王彧表薦其文學，除奉朝請。人曰：「臨淮舉卿，竟不相謝，恐非其宜。」鴻勳曰：「為國舉才，臨淮之務，祖鴻勳何事從而識之。」彧聞而喜曰：「吾得其人矣。」後咸陽王徽奏鴻勳為司徒法曹參軍事。及赴洛，徽謂曰：「臨淮相舉，竟不到門，今來何也？」鴻勳曰：「今來赴職，非為謝恩。」轉廷尉正，去官歸鄉里。齊神武嘗徽至并州，作《晉祠記》，好事者玩其文。位至高陽太守。在官清素，妻子不免寒餒。時議高之。齊天保初，卒官。

Zu Hongxun was a man of Fanyang in Zhuo commandery. His father Shen served Wei, successively as Administrator of Yanmen and of Xianyang; his governance won a reputation for competence. He died as Grand Master with Golden Seal and Purple Tassel, posthumously enfeoffed as Supervisor of the Secretariat and Governor of Youzhou, with the posthumous title Marquis Hui. In his coming-of-age years Hongxun and Lu Wenfu of the same commandery together served as clerks of the province. The Minister Over the Masses and Prince of Huai'an, Yuan Shao, memorialized recommending him for literary attainment, and he was appointed Court Gentleman for Attendance. Someone said, "The Prince of Huai'an recommended you, yet you never went to thank him—perhaps that is not fitting. Hongxun said, "Recommending talent for the state is the Prince of Huai'an's duty. What business has Zu Hongxun in going to acknowledge it. When Shao heard this he said with pleasure, "I have found my man. Later Prince Xianyang, Yuan Hui, memorialized appointing Hongxun as Legal Affairs Attendant of the Minister of Education. When he went to Luoyang, Hui said to him, "The Prince of Huai'an recommended you, yet you never came to my door—why have you come now? Hongxun said, "I have come now to take up my post, not to offer thanks for favor. He was transferred to Director of Punishments in the Court of Justice, then left office and returned home. When Northern Qi's Shenwu (Gao Huan) once had Hui come to Bingzhou, Hui composed "Record of the Jin Shrine"; connoisseurs admired his writing. He rose to the post of Administrator of Gaoyang. While in office he was pure and austere; his wife and children could not escape cold and hunger. Public opinion held him in high esteem. At the beginning of Qi Tianbao, he died in office.

李廣，字弘基，范陽人也。其先自遼東徙焉。廣博涉群書，有才思。少與趙郡李謇齊名，為邢、魏之亞，而訥於言，敏於行。中尉崔暹精選御史，皆是世胃，廣獨以才學兼侍御史，修國史。南台文奏，多其辭也。齊文宣初嗣霸業，命掌書記。天保初，欲以為中書郎，遇其病篤而止。廣嘗欲早朝，假寐，忽驚覺，謂其妻曰：「吾向似睡非睡，忽見一人出吾身中，語云：'君用心過苦，非精神所堪，今辭君去。 '」因而恍忽不樂，數日便遇疾，積年不起。廣雅有鑒識，度量弘遠，坦率無私，為士流所愛，時共贍遺之，賴以自給。竟以疾終。嘗薦畢義雲于崔暹。廣卒後，義雲集其文筆七卷，托魏收為之序。

Li Guang, courtesy name Hongji, was a man of Fanyang. His ancestors had moved there from Liaodong. Guang widely studied many books and possessed literary talent and thought. In youth he was as famous as Li Qian of Zhao commandery; he ranked just below Xing Lü and Wei Shou, yet was slow of speech and quick in action. Vice Director of the Masters of Writing Cui Xian rigorously selected censors—all were sons of eminent houses; Guang alone, for talent and learning, was concurrently appointed Attending Censor and helped compile the national history. Documents of the Southern Administration were largely in his phrasing. At the beginning when Qi Wenxuan succeeded the hegemonic enterprise, Guang was ordered to take charge of records. At the start of Tianbao they wished to make him Secretariat Gentleman, but stopped when he fell gravely ill. Guang once wished to attend court early and, feigning sleep, suddenly started awake. He told his wife, "Just now I seemed neither asleep nor awake, when suddenly I saw a man emerge from my body who said, 'Your mind works too bitterly; it is more than the spirit can bear. I now take my leave of you. ' Thereupon he grew dazed and unhappy; within days he fell ill and for years could not rise. Guang was by nature discerning and far-sighted in judgment, open and without selfishness, beloved among the gentry; they often sent him gifts, on which he relied to support himself. In the end he died of illness. He once recommended Bi Yiyun to Cui Xian. After Guang died, Yiyun collected his writings in seven scrolls and entrusted Wei Shou to write the preface.

樊遜，字孝謙，河東北猗氏人也。祖琰、父衡，並無官宦。而衡性至孝，喪父，負土成墳，植柏方數十畝，朝夕號慕。遜少好學。其兄仲以造氈為業，亦常優饒之。遜自責曰：「為人弟，獨愛安逸，可不愧於心乎！ '欲同勤事業。母馮氏謂曰：「汝欲謹小行邪？」遜感母言，遂專心典籍，恆書壁作「見賢思齊」四字以自勸。

Fan Xun, courtesy name Xiaqian, was a man of Beiyi in Hedong. His grandfather Yan and his father Heng both held no official posts. Heng was deeply filial; when his father died he carried earth himself to make the tomb mound and planted cypresses over several tens of mu, mourning and calling out day and night. Xun loved learning from youth. His elder brother Zhong made felt for a living and also often provided for him generously. Xun blamed himself, saying, "As a younger brother I alone love ease and comfort—can I not feel shame before my own heart! I wish to share in diligent work for the family enterprise. His mother, Lady Feng, said, "Do you wish to be careful in small conduct? Moved by his mother's words, Xun thereupon devoted himself to the classics, constantly writing on the wall the four characters "When you see the worthy, think to equal them" to urge himself on.

遜貌醜陋，有才氣。屬本州淪陷，寓居鄴中，為臨漳小吏。縣令裴鑒蒞官清苦，致白雀等瑞。遜上《清德頌》十首，鑒大加賞重，擢為主簿。仍薦之於右僕射崔暹，與遼東李廣、勃海封孝琰等為暹賓客。人有譏其靜默不能趨時者。遜常服東方朔之言：「陸沈世俗，避世金馬」，遂借陸沈公子為主人，擬《客難》制《客誨》以自廣。後崔暹大會客，大司馬、襄城王旭時亦在坐，欲命府僚。暹指遜曰：「此人學富才高，兼之佳行，可為王參軍也。」旭目之曰：「豈能就耶？」遜曰：「家無廕第，不敢當此。」武定七年，齊文襄崩，暹為文宣徙于邊，賓客咸散，遜遂徙居陳留。梁州刺史劉殺鬼以遜兼錄事參軍事。遜仍舉秀才。尚書案舊令，下州三載一舉秀才，為三年已貢開封人鄭祖獻，計至此年未合。兼別駕王聰抗辭爭議，右丞陽斐不能卻。尚書令高隆之曰：「雖遜才學優異，待明年非遠。」遜竟還本州。天保元年，本州復召舉秀才。三年春，會朝堂對策。策罷，中書郎張子融奏入。至四年五月，遜與定州秀才李子宣等對策三年不調，被付外。上書請從罷，詔不報。梁州重舉遜為秀才。五年正月，制詔問焉。尚書擢第，以遜為當時第一。十二月，清河王嶽為大行台，率眾南討，以遜從軍。明年，文宣納梁貞陽侯蕭明為梁主，嶽假遜大行台郎中，使于江南，與蕭脩、侯瑱和解。遜往還五日，得脩等報書，嶽因與脩盟于江上。大軍還鄴，遜仍被都官尚書崔昂舉薦。詔付尚書，考為清平勤幹，送吏部。

Xun was ugly in appearance yet possessed literary talent. When his home province fell, he lodged in Ye and served as a petty clerk in Linzhang. The magistrate Pei Jian took office in pure austerity and brought forth auspicious signs such as white sparrows. Xun submitted ten pieces of "Odes to Pure Virtue"; Jian greatly prized him and promoted him to chief clerk. He also recommended him to the Right Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, Cui Xian; together with Li Guang of Liaodong, Feng Xiaoyan of Bohai, and others, Xun became a guest of Xian. Some ridiculed him for his silence and inability to keep pace with the times. Xun often took to heart Dongfang Shuo's words, "Sunk in the world yet above the world, avoiding the world in the Golden Horse Gate," and so borrowed the Sunken-in-the-World Gentleman as his host, modeling himself on "Guest's Difficulty" to compose "Guest's Admonition" to broaden himself. Later, when Cui Xian gave a great banquet for his guests, the Grand Marshal and Prince of Xiangcheng, Gao Xu, was also present and wished to appoint a staff member. Xian pointed to Xun and said, "This man's learning is rich and his talent high; together with his fine conduct, he may serve as the prince's staff officer. Xu looked at him and said, "How could one employ him? Xun said, "My family has no hereditary privilege; I dare not accept this. In the seventh year of Wuding, Wenxiang of Qi died; Xian was moved to the frontier by Wenxuan, and all his guests dispersed; Xun then moved to Chenliu. The Inspector of Liangzhou, Liu Shagui, had Xun serve concurrently as Recording Secretary. Xun then was nominated as xiucai. According to old regulations of the Ministry of Works, each province presents one xiucai every three years; the previous cycle had already presented Zheng Zuxian of Kaifeng, so by the tally this year would not yet qualify. The Acting Administrator Wang Cong argued in protest; the Right Assistant Director Yang Fei could not refute him. Minister of Works Gao Longzhi said, "Though Xun's talent and learning are outstanding, waiting until next year is not far off. Xun in the end returned to his home province. In the first year of Tianbao his home province again summoned him as xiucai. In the spring of the third year they assembled at court for policy responses. When the policy essays were finished, Secretariat Gentleman Zhang Zirong memorialized to submit them. By the fifth month of the fourth year, Xun and the xiucai Li Zixuan of Dingzhou and others, who had presented policy essays yet received no appointment for three years, were assigned outside. They submitted memorials requesting release from service; the edict received no response. Liangzhou again nominated Xun as xiucai. In the first month of the fifth year an imperial edict was issued to question them. The Ministry of Works ranked the candidates and placed Xun first for that year. In the twelfth month Prince of Qinghe Gao Yue served as Grand Commissioner with Full Powers, leading troops south in campaign, and had Xun follow the army. The next year Wenxuan installed Marquis Zhenyang of Liang, Xiao Ming, as ruler of Liang; Yue provisionally appointed Xun as Gentleman of the Grand Commissioner and sent him to the lands south of the Yangtze to make peace with Xiao Xiu and Hou Tian. Xun went and returned in five days with reply letters from Xiu and the others; Yue thereupon allied with Xiu on the river. When the great army returned to Ye, Xun was again recommended by Minister of Justice Cui Ang. An edict entrusted him to the Ministry of Works; he was assessed as pure, fair, diligent, and capable, and sent to the Ministry of Personnel.

七年，詔令校定群書，供皇太子。遜與冀州秀才高乾和，瀛州秀才馬敬德、許散愁、韓同寶，洛州秀才傅懷德，懷州秀才古道子，廣平郡孝廉李漢子，勃海郡孝廉鮑長暄，陽平郡孝廉景孫，前梁州府主簿王九元、前開府水曹參軍周子深等十一人同被尚書召共刊定。時秘府書籍紕繆者多，遜乃議曰：「案漢中壘校尉劉向受詔校書，每一書竟，表上，輒言臣向書、長水校尉臣參書、太常博士書、中外書合若干本，以相比校，然後殺青。今所仇校，供擬極重，出自蘭台，禦諸甲館。向之故事，見存府閣。即欲刊定，必藉眾本。太常卿邢子才、太子少傅魏收、吏部尚書辛術、司農少卿穆子容、前黃門郎司馬子瑞、故國子祭酒李業興並是多書之家，請牒借本參校。」秘書監尉瑾移尚書都坐，凡所得別本三千餘卷。《五經》諸史殆無遺闕。

In the seventh year an edict ordered collation of the mass of books for the Crown Prince. Xun, together with the xiucai Gao Qianhe of Jizhou; the xiucai Ma Jingde, Xu San'chou, and Han Tongbao of Yingzhou; the xiucai Fu Huaide of Luozhou; the xiucai Gudao Zi of Huaizhou; the filial and incorrupt Li Hanzi of Guangping commandery; the filial and incorrupt Bao Changxuan of Bohai commandery; the filial and incorrupt Jing Sun of Yangping commandery; the former chief clerk of Liangzhou Wang Jiuyuan; and the former water bureau attendant of the Opening Office Zhou Zishen—eleven men in all—were together summoned by the Ministry of Works for joint collation. At the time many books in the secret repository were erroneous; Xun then proposed, saying, "According to the case of Han Central Fortress Commandant Liu Xiang, who received the edict to collate books: when each book was finished he memorialized upward, always stating the books of your subject Xiang, of Commandant of the Long Water Liu Can, of the Grand Master of Ceremonies's doctoral students, and of inner and outer copies—so many volumes in all—and compared them before making the final fair copy. The collation now undertaken is prepared for the weightiest use, issued from the Orchid Terrace and for imperial viewing in the various armored halls. Xiang's precedent is still preserved in the repository. If we wish to collate and fix the text, we must rely on many copies. Director of the Grand Master of Ceremonies Xing Zicai, Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince Wei Shou, Minister of Personnel Xin Shu, Vice Minister of Finance Mu Zirong, former Yellow Gate Gentleman Sima Zirui, and the late Director of the National University Li Yexing are all households with many books; please issue documents to borrow copies for comparative collation. Director of the Secretariat Yu Jin forwarded the matter to the chief seat of the Ministry of Works; in all they obtained more than three thousand scrolls of separate copies. The Five Classics and the various histories were nearly without omission or lack.

于時魏收作《庫狄幹碑序》，令孝謙為之銘，陸仰不知，以為收合作也。陸操、伏渾卒，楊愔使孝謙代己作書以告晉陽朝士，令魏潤色之，收不能改一字。八年，減東西二省官，更定選，員不過三百，參者二三千人。楊愔言於眾曰：「後生清俊，莫過盧思道；文章成就，莫過樊孝謙；几案斷割，莫過崔成之。」遂以思道長兼員外郎，三人並員外將軍。孝謙辭曰：「門族寒陋，訪第必不成，乞補員外司馬督。」愔曰：「才高不依常例。」特奏用之。

At that time Wei Shou composed the preface to the "Stele of Kudigan Gan" and had Xiaqian write the inscription; Lu Yang did not know this and thought it was a joint work of Shou. When Lu Cao and Fu Hun died, Yang Yin had Xiaqian draft letters in his stead to inform the court gentlemen at Jinyang and had Wei polish them; Shou could not change a single character. In the eighth year the offices of the Eastern and Western Provinces were reduced and selections were redefined; posts did not exceed three hundred, while those competing numbered two or three thousand. Yang Yin said to the assembly, "Among the clear and talented of the younger generation, none surpasses Lu Sidao; for literary achievement completed, none surpasses Fan Xiaqian; for decisive handling at the desk, none surpasses Cui Chengzhi. Thereupon Sidao was appointed acting Secretariat Gentleman with extended tenure, and all three were appointed Acting General of the Household. Xiaqian declined, saying, "My clan is poor and lowly; seeking a grade will surely fail—I beg to be appointed Acting Supervisor of the Household Cavalry instead. Yin said, "When talent is high, one need not follow ordinary precedent. He specially memorialized and had him appointed.

清河初，為主書，參典詔策。天統元年，加員外郎。居七八日，行過轜車，嚬眉下淚，指方相曰：「何日更相煩君一到？」數日而卒，雇方相送葬，仍前所逢者。

At the beginning of the Qinghe reign he served as Master of Documents and assisted in drafting edicts and policies. In the first year of Tiantong he was additionally appointed Acting Gentleman. After seven or eight days, as he was walking he passed a hearse; he knit his brows and shed tears, pointed at the exorcist and said, "On what day will I trouble you to come again? Within several days he died; he hired the exorcist to conduct the funeral—it was the same man he had met before.

孝謙死後，定州秀才荀士遜繼為主書，才名相亞。

After Xiaqian's death, the xiucai Xun Shixun of Dingzhou succeeded him as Master of Documents; their talent and fame were nearly equal.

茹瞻字孝博，東安人。南州舉秀才。清朗剛直。楊愔將用之，曰：「今日之選，不可無茹生。」卒于侍御史。

Ru Zhan, courtesy name Xiaobo, was a man of Dong'an. He was recommended as xiucai in Nanzhou. He was clear-minded, upright, and firm in character. Yang Yin was about to employ him and said, "In today's selection, we cannot do without Master Ru. He died while serving as Attendant Censor.

荀士遜，廣平人也。好學，有思理，為文清典，見賞知音。武定末，舉司州秀才，迄齊天保，十年不調。皇建中，馬敬德薦為主書，轉中書舍人。狀貌甚醜，以文辭見重。嘗有事須奏，遇武成在後庭，因左右傳通，傳通者不得士遜姓名，乃云「醜舍人」。帝曰：「必士遜也。」看封題果是，內人莫不歡笑。累遷中書侍郎，號為稱職。與李若等撰《典言》，行於世。齊亡年卒。

Xun Shixun was a man of Guangping. He loved learning, possessed reflective judgment, and wrote in a pure and canonical style; he was appreciated by connoisseurs. At the end of Wuding he was recommended as xiucai of Sizhou; through Northern Qi's Tianbao reign he received no appointment for ten years. During Huangjian, Ma Jingde recommended him as Master of Documents; he was transferred to Secretariat Drafter. His appearance was very ugly, but he was esteemed for his literary skill. Once when he had business requiring a memorial, he encountered Emperor Wucheng in the rear court; he had an attendant relay the message, but the relay did not know Shixun's name and so said "the ugly drafter." The emperor said, "It must be Shixun. When he looked at the cover and title it was indeed so, and everyone present laughed. He was promoted in succession to Secretariat Vice Director and was known as competent in office. Together with Li Ruo and others he compiled the 《Dianyan》, which circulated widely. He died in the year Northern Qi fell.

王褒，字子深，琅邪臨沂人也。曾祖儉、祖騫、父規，並《南史》有傳。褒識量淹通，志懷沈靜，美威儀，善談笑，博覽史傳，七歲能屬文。外祖梁司空袁昂愛之，謂賓客曰：「此兒當成吾宅相。」弱冠舉秀才，除秘書郎、太子舍人。梁國子祭酒蕭子雲，褒之姑夫也，特善草隸。褒少以姻戚，去來其家，遂相模範，而名亞子雲，並見重于時。武帝嘉其才藝，遂以弟鄱陽王恢女妻之。襲爵南昌縣侯，歷位秘書丞、宣城王文學、安城內史。及侯景陷建鄴，褒輯寧所部，見稱于時。轉南平內史。梁元帝嗣位，褒有舊，召拜吏部尚書、右僕射，仍遷左丞，兼參掌。褒既名家，文學優贍，當時咸共推挹，故位望隆重，寵遇日甚。而愈自謙損，不以位地矜物，時論稱之。

Wang Bao, courtesy name Zishen, was a man of Linyi in Langye. His great-grandfather Jian, grandfather Qian, and father Gui all have biographies in the 《History of the Southern Dynasties》. Bao's knowledge was broad and penetrating, his temperament serene and quiet; he had fine bearing and presence, was skilled in conversation and wit, read widely in histories and traditions, and at seven could compose prose. His maternal grandfather, Liang's Minister of Works Yuan Ang, loved him and said to guests, "This boy will become the glory of our house. At twenty he was recommended as xiucai and appointed Secretariat Gentleman and Crown Prince Attendant. Xiao Ziyun, Libationer of the National University of Liang, was Bao's uncle by marriage and was especially skilled in cursive and clerical script. In youth Bao, through this kinship, frequented his household and took him as a model; his fame was second only to Ziyun's, and both were highly regarded in their time. Emperor Wu admired his talent and art and thereupon gave him in marriage the daughter of his younger brother, Prince Hui of Poyang. He inherited the title Marquis of Nanchang county and successively held the posts of Secretariat Assistant, Literary Scholar to the Prince of Xuancheng, and Administrator of Ancheng. When Hou Jing took Jiankang, Bao gathered and pacified his district and was praised in his time. He was transferred to Administrator of Nanping. When Emperor Yuan of Liang succeeded to the throne, Bao had old ties with him and was summoned and appointed Minister of Personnel and Vice Director of the Left, then transferred to Left Assistant with a concurrent share in administration. Bao being of an eminent house and richly endowed in letters, all in his time honored and esteemed him; thus his position and repute were weighty and imperial favor grew daily. Yet he became all the more self-restrained and humble, not treating others with arrogance because of rank and status; contemporary opinion praised him.

初，元帝平侯景及禽武陵王紀後，以建鄴凋殘，時江陵殷盛，便欲安之。又其政府臣僚皆楚人也，並願即都鄢郢。嘗召群臣議之。鎮軍將軍胡僧祐、吏部尚書宗懍、太府卿黃羅漢、御史中丞劉玨等曰：「建鄴王氣已盡，又荊南地又有天子氣，遷徙非宜。」元帝深以為然。褒性謹慎，知元帝多猜忌，弗敢公言其非。後因清閒，密諫，言辭甚切。元帝意好荊楚，已從僧祐等策，竟不用。及魏征江陵，元帝授褒都督城西諸軍事。柵破，從元帝入金城。俄而元帝出降，褒遂與眾俱出，見柱國於謹，甚禮之。褒曾作《燕歌》，妙盡塞北寒苦之狀，元帝及諸文士並和之，而競為淒切之辭，至此方驗焉。褒與王克、劉玨、宗懍、殷不害等數十人俱至長安，周文喜曰：「昔平吳之利，二陸而已；今定楚之功，群賢畢至，可謂過之矣。」又謂褒及王克曰：「吾即王氏甥也，卿等並吾之舅氏，當以親戚為情，勿以去鄉介意。」於是授褒及殷不害等車騎大將軍、儀同三司。常從容上席，資餼甚厚。褒等亦並荷恩眄，忘羈旅焉。

Earlier, after Emperor Yuan pacified Hou Jing and captured Prince Ji of Wuling, because Jiankang was devastated while Jiangling at the time was flourishing, he wished to move the capital there. Moreover the officials of his government were all men of Chu and together wished to establish the capital immediately at Yan and Ying. He once summoned the ministers to discuss it. General Who Pacifies the Army Hu Sengyou, Minister of Personnel Zong Lin, Grand Steward Huang Luohan, Imperial Censor Liu Jue, and others said, "The royal aura of Jiankang is already exhausted, and moreover the land south of Jing again bears the aura of an emperor; relocation is not fitting. Emperor Yuan deeply agreed. Bao by nature was cautious; knowing that Emperor Yuan was much given to suspicion, he did not dare openly speak against it. Later, taking advantage of a quiet moment, he remonstrated in secret; his words were very earnest. Emperor Yuan's inclination favored Jing and Chu; he had already followed the plan of Sengyou and the others and in the end did not adopt Bao's advice. When Wei attacked Jiangling, Emperor Yuan entrusted Bao with overall command of military affairs west of the city. When the palisade was breached, he followed Emperor Yuan into the inner citadel. Before long Emperor Yuan came out to surrender; Bao then went out together with the multitude and met the Pillar of State Yu Jin, who treated him with great courtesy. Bao had once composed the 《Yan Song》, wonderfully capturing the cold and hardship north of the passes; Emperor Yuan and the various men of letters all harmonized with it, competing in plaintive language—only now was it verified. Bao, together with Wang Ke, Liu Jue, Zong Lin, Yin Buhai, and several tens of others, all arrived at Chang'an; Zhou Wen said with delight, "In old times the profit of pacifying Wu was only the two Lus; now in settling the achievement over Chu, all the worthy have arrived—it may be said to surpass that. He also said to Bao and Wang Ke, "I am myself a nephew of the Wang clan; you are all my uncles by marriage—you should treat kinship as feeling and not take leaving your homeland to heart. Thereupon he appointed Bao and Yin Buhai and others General of Chariots and Cavalry and Senior Grand Master of the Palace with Honored Standing. He was often given the seat of honor at ease; provisions and gifts were very generous. Bao and the others likewise all received gracious favor and forgot they were travelers far from home.

周孝閔帝踐阼，封石泉縣子。明帝即位，篤好文學，時褒與庾信才名最高，特加親待。帝每遊宴，命褒賦詩談論，恆在左右。尋加開府儀同三司。保定中，除內史中大夫。武帝作《象經》，令褒注之，引據該洽，甚見稱賞。褒有器局，雅識政體，既累世在江東為宰輔，帝亦以此重之。建德以後，頗參朝議，凡大詔冊，皆令褒具草。東宮既建，授太子少保，遷少司空，仍掌綸誥。乘輿行幸，褒常侍從。

When Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou ascended the throne, Bao was enfeoffed as Viscount of Shiquan county. When Emperor Ming succeeded, he was ardently fond of letters; at the time Bao and Yu Xin had the highest fame for talent and received special intimate treatment. Whenever the emperor went on excursions or banquets, he ordered Bao to compose poetry and discuss matters; he was constantly at his side. Soon he was additionally given the title Opening Office with Honored Standing of the Third Rank. During Baoding he was appointed Grand Master of the Palace Secretariat. Emperor Wu composed the 《Xiangjing》 and had Bao annotate it; his citations were comprehensive and apt, and he was greatly praised and rewarded. Bao had capacity and breadth of vision and finely understood the substance of government; since for generations his family had been chief ministers in the Jiangdong region, the emperor also valued him for this. After Jiande he participated considerably in court deliberations; for all great edicts and patent letters, Bao was ordered to draft them. Once the Eastern Palace was established, he was appointed Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, promoted to Junior Minister of Works, and still directed imperial rescripts. When the imperial carriage went on progress, Bao constantly attended and followed.

初，褒與梁處士汝南周弘讓相善，及讓兄弘正自陳來聘，帝許褒等通親知音問，褒贈弘讓詩並書焉。尋出為宜州刺史，卒于位。子鼒。

Earlier Bao was on good terms with the reclusive gentleman of Liang, Zhou Hongrang of Runan; when Hongrang's elder brother Hongzheng came on an embassy from Chen, the emperor permitted Bao and others to communicate with kin and friends and exchange greetings; Bao presented Hongrang with a poem and a letter. Soon he went out as Governor of Yizhou and died in office. His son was Zi.

庾信，字子山，南陽新野人。祖易、父肩吾，並《南史》有傳。信幼而俊邁，聰敏絕倫，博覽群書，尤善《春秋左氏傳》。身長八尺，腰帶十圍，容止頹然，有過人者。父肩吾，為梁太子中庶子，掌管記。東海徐摛為右衛率。摛子陵及信並為抄撰學士。父子東宮，出入禁闥，恩禮莫與比靈斯。既文並綺豔，故世號為徐、庾體焉。當時後進，競相模範，每有一文，都下莫不傳誦。累遷通直散騎常侍，聘於東魏。文章辭令，盛為鄴下所稱。還為東宮學士，領建康令。

Yu Xin, courtesy name Zishan, was a man of Xinye in Nanyang. His grandfather Yi and father Jianwu both have biographies in the 《History of the Southern Dynasties》. Xin in youth was outstanding and surpassing, intelligent and keen beyond comparison; he read widely among all books and was especially skilled in the 《Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals》. He stood eight chi in height, with a waist belt ten wei in girth; his bearing and deportment were lofty, with qualities surpassing others. His father Jianwu served as Crown Prince Senior Attendant of Liang and directed the secretariat records. Xu Chi of Donghai served as Commander of the Right Guard. Chi's son Ling and Xin both served as drafting scholars. Father and sons served in the Eastern Palace, entering and leaving the forbidden gates; in favor shown none could compare. Since their writing was alike in ornate brilliance, the age therefore styled it the Xu and Yu manner. The younger generation of the time competed to take them as models; whenever there was a new piece, none in the capital failed to pass it around and recite it. He was promoted in succession to Regular Attendant of the Direct and Unimpeded Cavalry and was sent on embassy to Eastern Wei. His essays and diplomatic letters were greatly praised in Ye. On his return he became an Eastern Palace scholar and concurrently served as Magistrate of Jiankang.

侯景作亂，梁簡文帝命信率宮中文武千餘人營於硃雀航。及景至，信以眾先退。台城陷後，信奔於江陵。梁元帝承制，除御史中丞。及即位，轉右衛將軍，封武康縣侯，加散騎侍郎，聘于西魏。屬大軍南討，遂留長安。江陵平，累遷儀同三司。周孝閔帝踐阼，封臨清縣子，除司水下大夫。出為弘農郡守。遷驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、司憲中大夫。進爵義城縣侯。俄拜洛州刺史。信為政簡靜，吏人安之。時陳氏與周通好，南北流寓之士，各許還其舊國。陳氏乃請王褒及信等十數人。武帝唯放王克、殷不害等，信及褒並惜而不遣。尋徵為司宗中大夫。明帝、武帝並雅好文學，信特蒙恩禮。至於趙、滕諸王，周旋款至，有若布衣之交。群公碑誌，多相托焉。唯王褒頗與信埒，自余文人，莫有逮者。

When Hou Jing raised rebellion, Emperor Jianwen of Liang ordered Xin to lead more than a thousand civil and military officials of the palace to encamp at the Vermilion Bird ford. When Jing arrived, Xin with his troops withdrew first. After the capital fell, Xin fled to Jiangling. Emperor Yuan of Liang assumed the regency and appointed him Imperial Censor. When he took the throne, Xin was transferred to General of the Right Guard, enfeoffed as Marquis of Wukang county, given the additional post of Cavalier Attendant, and sent on embassy to Western Wei. As the great army marched south on campaign, he was detained in Chang'an. When Jiangling was pacified, he was promoted in succession to Honored Standing of the Third Rank. When Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou ascended the throne, he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Linqing county and appointed Grand Master of the Palace for Water Affairs. He went out as Administrator of Hongnong commandery. He was transferred to General of Agile Cavalry, Opening Office with Honored Standing of the Third Rank, and Grand Master of the Palace for Law. He was advanced in rank to Marquis of Yicheng county. Soon he was appointed Governor of Luozhou. Xin's administration was simple and quiet; officials and people were at ease under him. At the time Chen and Zhou were on friendly terms; scholars sojourning north and south were each permitted to return to their former states. Chen thereupon requested Wang Bao and Xin and more than ten others. Emperor Wu only released Wang Ke, Yin Buhai, and others; as for Xin and Bao, he cherished them and would not send them away. Soon he was summoned as Grand Master of the Palace for the Imperial Clan. Emperors Ming and Wu were both elegantly fond of letters; Xin especially received gracious favor. As for the princes of Zhao, Teng, and the rest, he moved among them with warm sincerity, as if the friendship of commoners. The steles and epitaphs of the great lords mostly entrusted these to him. Only Wang Bao was nearly equal to Xin; among the other men of letters, none could match him.

信雖位望通顯，常作鄉關之思，乃作《哀江南賦》以致其意。大象初，以疾去職。隋開皇元年卒。有文集二十卷。文帝悼之，贈本官，加荊、雍二州刺史。子立嗣。

Though Xin's position and repute were eminent, he often thought of his homeland and therefore composed the "Lament for Jiangnan" to express his feeling. At the beginning of Daxiang he resigned on account of illness. He died in the first year of Sui's Kaihuang reign. He left collected works in twenty juan. Emperor Wen mourned him, granted his former office posthumously, and added the posts of Governor of Jing and of Yong provinces. His son Li succeeded.

顏之推，字介，琅邪臨沂人也。祖見遠、父協，並以義烈稱。世善《周官》、《左氏》學，俱《南史》有傳。之推年十二，遇梁湘東王自講《莊》、《老》，之推便預門徒。虛談非其所好，還習《禮》、《傳》。博覽書史，無不該洽，辭情典麗，甚為西府所稱。湘東王以為其國右常侍，加鎮西墨曹參軍。好飲酒，多任縱，不修邊幅，時論以此少之。湘東遣世子方諸鎮郢州，以之推為中撫軍府外兵參軍，掌管記。遇侯景陷郢州，頻欲殺之，賴其行台郎中王則以免。景平，還江陵。時湘東即位，以之推為散騎侍郎，奏舍人事。後為周軍所破，大將軍李穆重之，送往弘農，令掌其兄陽平公遠書翰。遇河水暴長，具船將妻子奔齊，經砥柱之險，時人稱其勇決。文宣見，悅之，即除奉朝請，引於內館中，侍從左右，頗被顧眄。後從至天泉池，以為中書舍人，令中書郎段孝信將敕示之推。之推營外飲酒，孝信還以狀言，文宣乃曰：「且停。」由是遂寢。後待詔文林館，除司徒錄事參軍。之推聰穎機悟，博識有才辯，工尺牘，應對閑明，大為祖珽所重，令掌知館事，判署文書。遷通直散騎常侍，俄領中書舍人。帝時有取索，恆令中使傳旨，之推稟承宣告，館中皆受進止。所進文書，皆是其封署，於進賢門奏之，待報方出。兼善於文字，監校繕寫，處事勤敏，號為稱職，帝甚加恩接。為勳要者所嫉，常欲害之。崔季舒等將諫也，之推取急還宅，故不連署。及召集諫人，之推亦被喚入，勘無名，得免。尋除黃門侍郎。

Yan Zhitui, courtesy name Jie, was a man of Linyi in Langye. His grandfather Jianyuan and father Xie were both famed for righteous valor. For generations the family excelled in the learning of the Offices of Zhou and the Zuo tradition; all have biographies in the History of the Southern Dynasties. When Zhitui was twelve, he encountered the Prince of Xiangdong of Liang lecturing on the Zhuangzi and Laozi himself; Zhitui at once joined the disciples. Empty talk was not to his liking; he returned to study the Rites and the Traditions. He read widely in books and histories, mastering all without exception; his literary style was canonical and beautiful, and he was greatly praised by the Western Headquarters. The Prince of Xiangdong appointed him Regular Attendant of the Right in his princedom and additionally made him Ink Bureau Attendant of the Army Pacifying the West. He loved wine, was much given to license, and did not keep up appearances; contemporary opinion therefore thought less of him. Xiangdong sent his heir Fangzhu to garrison Yingzhou and appointed Zhitui External Military Attendant of the Central Pacifying Army Headquarters, in charge of secretariat records. When Hou Jing took Yingzhou, he repeatedly wished to kill him; he was spared thanks to Wang Ze, Attendant of the Mobile Headquarters. When Jing was pacified, he returned to Jiangling. When Xiangdong took the throne, he appointed Zhitui Cavalier Attendant and gave him the duties of a Memorial Drafter. Later, when they were defeated by the Zhou army, the Great General Li Mu valued him and sent him to Hongnong, ordering him to manage the correspondence of his elder brother, the Duke of Yangping, Yuan. When the river waters rose violently, he prepared a boat and fled to Qi with his wife and children, passing the peril of Jizhu; people of the time praised his courage and resolve. When Emperor Wenxuan saw him, he was pleased and at once appointed him Court Gentleman for Attendance, bringing him into the inner lodge to attend at his side; he received considerable favor. Later, when he followed the emperor to the Heavenly Spring Pool, Zhitui was made Secretariat Drafter; the Secretariat Gentleman Duan Xiaoxin was ordered to show Zhitui the edict. Zhitui was drinking outside the camp; Xiaoxin returned and reported the situation, and Wenxuan then said, "Let it wait for now. Because of this the matter was dropped. Later he awaited edicts at the Forest of Letters Hall and was appointed Recorder of the Minister of Education. Zhitui was intelligent and quick-witted, broadly learned and talented in debate, skilled in letters, and clear and ready in reply; Zu Ting greatly valued him and had him manage the hall affairs and endorse documents. He was transferred to Regular Attendant of the Direct and Unimpeded Cavalry and soon concurrently served as Secretariat Drafter. When the emperor had demands, he always had palace envoys convey his orders; Zhitui received and announced them, and everyone in the hall took their instructions from him. All documents submitted were sealed by him; he presented them at the Gate of Advancement of Worthies and released them only after receiving a reply. He was also skilled in writing, supervised collation and copying, and handled affairs with diligence and alertness; he was known as competent in office, and the emperor greatly favored him. He was envied by powerful meritocrats, who often wished to harm him. When Cui Jishu and others were about to remonstrate, Zhitui took urgent leave and returned home, and therefore did not join in signing. When those who had remonstrated were summoned, Zhitui was also called in; on investigation his name was not listed, and he was spared. Soon he was appointed Gentleman of the Yellow Gate.

及周兵陷晉陽，帝輕騎還鄴，窘急，計無所從。之推因宦者侍中鄧長顒進奔陳策，仍勸募吳士千餘人以為左右，取青、徐路共投陳國。帝納之，以告丞相高阿那肱等。阿那肱不願入陳。乃雲吳士難信，勸帝送珍寶累重向青州，且守三齊地。若不可保，徐浮海南度。雖不從之推策，然猶以為平原太守，令守河津。

When the Zhou army took Jinyang, the emperor returned to Ye with a light escort; in distress and urgency, he had no plan to follow. Zhitui, through the eunuch Attendant-in-Chief Deng Changying, advanced a plan to flee to Chen; he also urged recruiting more than a thousand Wu men as a personal guard and taking the Qing and Xu route together to throw themselves on Chen. The emperor accepted it and told the Chief Minister Gao Anagong and the others. Anagong did not wish to enter Chen. He then said that Wu men were hard to trust and urged the emperor to send his heavy store of treasures to Qingzhou and for the time being hold the Three Qi region. If it could not be held, they could slowly cross the sea southward. Though they did not follow Zhitui's plan, they still made him Administrator of Pingyuan and ordered him to guard the river crossing.

齊亡入周。大象末，為御史上士。隋開皇中，太子召為文學，深見禮重，尋以疾終。有文集三十卷，撰《家訓》二十篇，並行於世。之推在齊有二子，長曰思魯，次曰敏楚，蓋不忘本也。《之推集》，思魯自為序。

When Qi perished he entered Zhou. At the end of Daxiang he served as Senior Attendant of the Censorate. During Sui's Kaihuang reign the Crown Prince summoned him as Literary Scholar; he was deeply honored, and soon died of illness. He left collected works in thirty juan and compiled twenty chapters of Family Instructions; both circulated widely. Zhitui had two sons in Qi: the elder was named Silu, the younger Mintu—showing that he did not forget his origins. The Collected Works of Zhitui had a preface written by Silu himself.

弟之儀，字升。幼穎悟，三歲能讀《孝經》。及長，博涉群書，好為詞賦。嘗獻梁元帝《荊州頌》，辭致雅贍。帝手敕曰：「枚乘二葉，俱得游梁；應貞兩世，並稱文學。我求才子，鯁慰良深。」

His younger brother Zhiyi, courtesy name Sheng. In youth he was keen and perceptive; at three he could read the Classic of Filial Piety. When grown, he read widely among all books and loved composing rhapsodies and fu. He once presented to Emperor Yuan of Liang the "Hymn to Jingzhou"; its language was elegant and ample. The emperor wrote in his own hand: "Mei Sheng for two generations both gained to roam in Liang; Ying Zhen for two ages were both styled men of letters. I seek a talented man—how deeply this straight answer comforts me."

江陵平，之儀隨例遷長安，周明帝以為麟趾學士。稍遷司書上士。武帝初建東宮，盛選師傅，以之儀為侍讀。太子後征吐谷渾，在軍有過行，鄭譯等並以不能匡弼坐譴，唯之儀以累諫獲賞。即拜小宮尹，封平陽縣男。宣帝即位，遷上儀同大將軍、禦正中大夫，進爵為公。帝后刑政乖僻，昏縱日甚。之儀犯顏驟諫，雖不見納，終亦不止，深為帝所忌。然以恩舊，每優容之。及帝殺王軌，之儀固諫。帝怒，欲並致之於法。後以其諒直無私，乃舍之。

When Jiangling was pacified, Zhiyi was moved to Chang'an according to precedent; Emperor Ming of Zhou made him a Unicorn Toe Scholar. He was gradually promoted to Senior Attendant of the Directorate of Documents. When Emperor Wu first established the Eastern Palace, he lavishly selected tutors and made Zhiyi Reader-in-Attendance. Later the Crown Prince campaigned against Tuyuhun; in the army he committed misconduct, and Zheng Yi and others were all punished for failing to correct him—only Zhiyi was rewarded for repeated remonstrance. He was at once appointed Junior Palace Steward and enfeoffed as Baron of Pingyang county. When Emperor Xuan succeeded, Zhiyi was transferred to General of the Upper Honored Standing and Grand Master of the Palace for the Imperial Household, and advanced in rank to Duke. The emperor afterward was perverse in punishments and government, growing daily more muddled and dissolute. Zhiyi offended his countenance and remonstrated repeatedly; though not accepted, he never ceased, and the emperor deeply resented him. Yet because of old favor, the emperor always treated him with forbearance. When the emperor killed Wang Gui, Zhiyi firmly remonstrated. The emperor was angry and wished to subject him to the law as well. Later, because he was honest, upright, and without private motive, the emperor spared him.

宣帝崩，劉昉、鄭譯等矯遺詔，以隋文帝為丞相輔少主。之儀知非帝旨，拒而弗從。昉等草詔，署訖，逼之儀署。之儀厲聲謂昉等曰：「主上升遐，嗣子幼沖，阿衡之任，宜在宗英。方今賢戚之內，趙王最長，以親以德，合膺重寄。公等備受朝恩，當盡忠報國，柰何一旦欲以神器假人！之儀有死而已，不能誣罔先帝。」於是昉等知不可屈，乃代之儀署而行之。隋文帝后索符璽，之儀又正色曰：「此天子之物，自有主者，宰相何故索之？」於是文帝大怒，命引出，將戮之。然以其人望，乃止。出為西疆郡守。

When Emperor Xuan died, Liu Fang, Zheng Yi, and others forged the testamentary edict, making Emperor Wen of Sui Chief Minister to assist the young ruler. Zhiyi knew this was not the late emperor's intent and refused to comply. Fang and the others drafted the edict; when it was signed, they forced Zhiyi to sign. Zhiyi said sharply to Fang and the others, "The lord has ascended on high; the heir is young and tender; the task of the regent should fall on a worthy of the imperial clan. Among the worthy kin today, the Prince of Zhao is eldest; in kinship and in virtue he should bear this heavy charge. You have all received the court's grace and ought to serve the state with full loyalty—how can you in a single day wish to lend the sacred vessel to another! Zhiyi has death and nothing more; he cannot deceive and wrong the late emperor. Thereupon Fang and the others knew he could not be bent and signed in Zhiyi's place before carrying it out. Afterward Emperor Wen of Sui demanded the seals and credentials; Zhiyi again said sternly, "These are the Son of Heaven's objects; they have their own master—why should the Chief Minister demand them? Thereupon Emperor Wen was greatly angered, ordered him led out, and was about to execute him. Yet because of his public standing, he stopped. Zhiyi went out as Administrator of Xijiang commandery.

及踐極，詔征還京師，進爵新野郡公。開皇五年，拜集州刺史。在州清靜，夷夏悅之。明年代還，遂優遊不仕。十年正月，之儀例入朝。文帝望而識之，命引至御坐，謂之曰：「見危授命，臨大節而不可奪。古人所難，何以加卿。」乃賜錢十萬、米一百石。十一年卒。有《文集》十卷，行於世。

When Wen took the throne, an edict summoned him back to the capital and advanced his rank to Duke of Xinye commandery. In the fifth year of Kaihuang he was appointed Governor of Jizhou. In the province his rule was pure and quiet; barbarians and Chinese alike were pleased with him. The next year his term ended and he returned; thereafter he lived at ease and took no office. In the first month of the tenth year, Zhiyi entered court according to precedent. Emperor Wen saw him from afar and recognized him, ordered him brought to the imperial seat, and said to him, "To give one's life in peril, to face great principle and not be turned from it— what the ancients found difficult—how could one add to you? He then granted him a hundred thousand cash and a hundred shi of grain. He died in the eleventh year. He left a Collected Works in ten juan, which circulated widely.

虞世基，字懋世，會稽餘姚人也。父荔，《南史》有傳。世基幼恬靜，喜慍不形于色，博學有高才，兼善草隸。陳中書令孔奐見而歎曰：「南金之貴，屬在斯人。」少傅徐陵聞其名，召之，世基不往。後因公會，陵一見而奇之，顧朝士曰：「當今潘、陸也。」因以弟女妻焉。仕陳，累遷尚書左丞。陳主嘗于莫府山校獵，令世基為《講武賦》，於坐奏之。陳主嘉之，賜馬一匹。

Yu Shiji, courtesy name Maoshi, was a man of Yuyao in Kuaiji. His father Li has a biography in the History of the Southern Dynasties. Shiji in youth was tranquil; joy and anger did not show on his face; he was broadly learned with high talent and was also skilled in cursive and clerical script. Kong Huan, Secretariat Director of Chen, saw him and sighed, saying, "The worth of southern gold belongs to this man. Junior Tutor Xu Ling heard his name and summoned him; Shiji did not go. Later, at a public gathering, Ling saw him once and marveled at him; turning to the court gentlemen he said, "The Pan and Lu of our day. He thereupon gave him his younger brother's daughter in marriage. He served Chen and was promoted in succession to Left Assistant of the Ministry of Works. The ruler of Chen once hunted at Mofu Mountain and had Shiji compose the "Fu on Military Instruction"; he presented it at the gathering. The ruler of Chen praised it and granted him one horse.

及陳滅，入隋為通直郎，直內史省。貧無產業，每傭書養親，怏怏不平。嘗為五言詩以見情，文理忄妻切，世以為工，作者無不吟詠。未幾拜內史舍人。煬帝即位，顧遇彌隆。秘書監河東柳顧言，博學有才，罕所推謝，至是與世基相見，歎曰：「海內當共推此一人，非吾儕所及也。」俄遷內史侍郎。以母憂去職，哀毀骨立。有詔起令視事。拜見之日，殆不能起，令左右扶之。哀其羸瘠，詔令進肉。世基食，輒悲哽不能下筋。帝使謂曰：「方相委任，宜為國惜身。」前後敦勸者數矣。帝重其才，親禮逾厚，專典機密，與納言蘇威、左翊衛大將軍宇文述、黃門侍郎裴矩、御史大夫裴蘊等參掌朝政。時天下多事，四方表奏，日有百數。帝方凝重，事不廷決。入閣之後，始召世基口授節度。世基至省，方為敕書，日旦百紙，無所遺繆。遼東之役，進位金紫光祿大夫。後從幸雁門，為突厥所圍。戰士多敗。世基勸帝為賞格，親自撫循，乃下詔停遼東事。帝從之，師乃復振。及圍解，勳格不行，又下伐遼之詔，由是言其詐眾，朝野離心。帝幸江都，次鞏縣，世基以盜賊日盛，請發兵屯洛口倉，以備不虞。帝不從，但答云：「卿是書生，定猶恇怯。」于時天下大亂，世基知帝不可諫正，又以高熲、張衡等相繼誅戮，懼禍及己，雖居近侍，唯諂取容，不敢忤意。盜賊日甚，郡縣多沒，世基知帝惡數聞之，後有告敗者，乃抑損表狀，不以實聞。是後外間有變，帝弗之知也。嘗遣太僕卿楊義臣捕盜河北，降賊數十萬，列狀上聞。帝歎曰：「我初不聞賊頓如此，義臣列降賊何多也？」世基曰：「鼠竊雖多，未足為慮。義臣克之，擁兵不少，久在閫外，此最非宜。」帝曰：「卿言是也。」遽追義臣，放其兵散。又越王侗遣太常丞元善達間行賊中，詣江都奏事，稱：「李密有眾數萬，圍逼京都。賊據洛口倉，城內無食。若陛下速還，烏合必散。不然者，東都決沒。」因歔欷嗚咽，帝為改容。世基見帝色憂，進曰：「越王年小，此輩誑之。若如所言，善達何緣得至？」帝勃然怒曰：「善達小人，敢廷辱我！」因使經賊中，向東陽催運。善達遂為群盜所殺。此後外人杜口，莫敢以賊聞奏。

When Chen was destroyed, he entered Sui as Direct Attendant and served in the Secretariat. Poor and without property, he copied books to support his parents and nursed a constant resentment. He once wrote pentasyllabic poems to vent his feelings; the lines were moving and poignant, and contemporaries hailed them as masterly—every writer recited them. Before long he was made Secretariat Drafter. When Emperor Yang took the throne, imperial favor toward him grew ever greater. Liu Guyan of Hedong, the Secretariat Director, was learned and talented and rarely praised anyone; meeting Shiji, he sighed and said, "Within the four seas this one man alone should be acclaimed—we of our sort cannot match him. Soon he was promoted to Secretariat Vice Director. He left office to mourn his mother and wasted away with grief until he was skin and bone. An edict recalled him to duty. On the day he paid homage he could barely stand and had to be supported by attendants. Pitying how frail he was, the emperor ordered that meat be brought to him. When Shiji tried to eat, grief would choke him and he could not swallow. The emperor sent word: "Now that I entrust affairs to you, you ought to spare your health for the sake of the state. Such earnest admonitions were repeated several times. The emperor prized his talent, drew him ever closer, put him in sole charge of confidential matters, and with Su Wei, Yuwen Shu, Pei Ju, Pei Yun, and others shared in governing the court. The realm was troubled on every side; memorials from the four quarters ran to hundreds a day. The emperor was grave and deliberate and would not decide matters in open court. Only after retiring to the inner quarters would he summon Shiji and dictate his orders. Shiji would go to the ministry and draft edicts—by dawn a hundred documents, without slip or omission. During the Liaodong campaign he was promoted to Grand Master of the Palace with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. Later he accompanied the emperor to Yanmen, where they were besieged by the Turks. Many of the troops were defeated. Shiji urged the emperor to proclaim rewards and go among the men in person; an edict then halted the Liaodong campaign. The emperor agreed, and the army's spirit revived. When the siege was lifted the promised rewards were not granted, and a new edict ordered another attack on Liao; people said he had deceived the army, and court and country turned away from him. The emperor traveled to Jiangdu and halted at Gong; as banditry grew daily, Shiji asked to station troops at the Luokou granary against surprise. The emperor refused, answering only, "You are a scholar—you must still be timid and fearful. The empire was falling apart; Shiji knew the emperor could not be remonstrated with, and as Gao Jiong, Zhang Heng, and others were executed one after another, he feared for his own life; though he stayed at the emperor's side, he only flattered and never contradicted him. As bandits grew worse and commanderies and counties fell, Shiji knew the emperor hated repeated bad news; when defeat was reported later, he toned down the memorials and did not tell him the truth. Henceforth the emperor knew nothing of what was happening outside. He once sent Yang Yichen, Minister of Imperial Studs, to suppress bandits in Hebei; tens of thousands surrendered and were listed in a memorial. The emperor sighed: "I never heard that bandits had suddenly become so numerous—why does Yichen list so many surrenders? Shiji said, "Rats and thieves may be many, but they are no great concern. Yichen has beaten them but now commands no small force and has long been outside the passes—that is most dangerous. The emperor said, "You are right. He hastily recalled Yichen and dispersed his troops. The Prince of Yue also sent Yuan Shanda, Director of Ceremonies, through the bandits by a secret route to Jiangdu to report that Li Mi had tens of thousands of men and was pressing the capital. The bandits held the Luokou granary and the city had no grain. If Your Majesty returns at once, the mob will surely scatter. Otherwise the eastern capital will surely fall. Shanda sobbed and wept; the emperor's face changed. Seeing the emperor troubled, Shiji stepped forward: "The Prince of Yue is young; these men deceive him. If things were as they say, how could Shanda have arrived here? The emperor flared up: "Shanda is a petty fellow who dares insult me in court! He sent him back through the bandit country to Dongyang to urge grain transport. Shanda was killed by the bandits. After that no outsider dared report bandits in memorials.

世基氣貌沈審，言多合意，是以特見親愛，朝臣無與為比。其繼室孫氏，性驕淫，世基惑之，恣意奢靡，雕飾器服，無復素士之風。孫復攜前夫子夏侯儼入世基舍，而頑鄙無賴，為其聚斂，鬻官賣獄，賄賂公行，其門如市，金寶盈積。其弟世南素國士，而清貧不立，未曾有所贍。由是為論者所譏。朝野咸共疾怨。宇文化及之弑逆也，世基乃見害。

Shiji was deep and careful in manner; his words usually pleased the emperor, and none at court was so beloved. His second wife, of the Sun clan, was arrogant and dissolute; bewitched by her, he indulged in luxury, carving and adorning vessels and dress until nothing remained of a scholar's plain ways. Sun also brought her former husband's son Xia Houyan into the household; coarse and worthless, he amassed wealth for them, sold offices and judgments, and bribes flowed at their gate like a market, gold and gems piled high. His younger brother Shinan, though a man of the state's scholar class, was poor and unsupported; Shiji never helped him. Critics therefore mocked him. Court and country alike hated him. When Yuwen Huaji murdered the emperor, Shiji was killed too.

長子肅，好學才藝，時人稱有家風。弱冠早沒。

His eldest son Su loved learning and the arts; contemporaries praised the family's tradition. He died young, not yet thirty.

肅弟熙，大業末為符璽郎。次子柔、晦，並宣義郎。化及將亂之夕，宗人虞伋知而告熙曰：「事勢已然，吾將濟卿南度，且得免禍，同死何益。」熙曰：「棄父背君，求生何地，感尊之懷，自此訣矣。」及難作，兄弟競請先死，行刑人先世基殺之。

Su's younger brother Xi, at the end of Daye, was Credential Attendant. The second sons Rou and Hui both held the post of Gentleman for Promoting Righteousness. On the eve of Huaji's revolt their clansman Yu Ji learned of it and told Xi, "The die is cast; I will help you flee south and escape harm—what good is dying together? Xi said, "To abandon one's father and betray one's lord—where could one live? I thank you for your kindness; we part here. When disaster came, the brothers vied to die first; the executioners killed Shiji first.

柳{巧言}，字顧言，河東人也。世仕江南，居襄陽。祖惔，《南史》有傳。 {巧言}少聰敏，解屬文，好讀書，所覽將萬卷。仕梁，為著作佐郎。後蕭察據荊州，以為侍中，領國子祭酒、吏部尚書。及梁國廢，拜開府，為內史侍郎。以無吏幹，轉晉王諮議參軍。王好文雅，招引才學之士諸葛潁、虞世南、王胄、硃瑒等百餘人以充學士，而{巧言}為之冠。王以師友處之，每有文什，必令其潤色，然後示人。嘗朝京還，作《歸籓賦》，命{巧言}為序，詞甚典麗。初王屬文，效庾信體，及見{巧言}後，文體遂變。

Liu Guyan, courtesy name Guyan, came from Hedong. For generations the family had served in the south and lived at Xiangyang. His grandfather Tan is given a biography in the History of the Southern Dynasties. From youth Guyan was clever and quick, could write prose, loved books, and had read nearly ten thousand juan. In Liang he served as Assistant in the Bureau of Composition. When Xiao Cha held Jingzhou he made him Attendant-in-Ordinary, Libationer of the National University, and Minister of Personnel. When the Liang state was abolished he received the Opening Office and became Secretariat Vice Director. Lacking administrative talent, he was transferred to be Advisory Attendant to the Prince of Jin. The prince loved letters and gathered more than a hundred scholars—Zhuge Ying, Yu Shiji, Wang Zhou, Zhu Yang, and others—with Guyan at their head. The prince treated him as teacher and friend; every literary piece was polished by Guyan before it was shown to others. Returning from the capital he wrote the "Fu on Returning to the Fief" and had Guyan compose the preface in splendidly canonical language. At first the prince wrote in imitation of Yu Xin; after meeting Guyan his style changed.

仁壽初，引為東宮學士，加通直散騎常侍，檢校洗馬，甚見親重。每召入臥內，與之宴謔。 {巧言}尤俊辯，多在侍從，有所顧問，應答如響。性嗜酒，言雜誹諧。由是彌為太子所親狎。以其好內典，令撰《法華玄宗》，為二十卷上之。太子大悅，賞賜優洽，儕輩莫比。

At the start of Renshou he entered the Eastern Palace as scholar, was given Regular Attendant of the Direct and Unimpeded Cavalry, and made Inspector of the Crown Prince's Chariot, with great honor. He was often summoned into the inner quarters to feast and jest with the prince. Guyan was especially quick-tongued; in attendance he answered questions like an echo. He loved wine and his speech mixed jest and banter. The prince therefore drew even closer to him. Because he loved Buddhist sutras, he was ordered to compile the Xuanzong of the Lotus Sutra in twenty juan and present it. The Crown Prince was delighted and rewarded him generously beyond any peer.

煬帝嗣位，拜秘書監，封漢南縣公。帝退朝後，便命入問，言宴諷讀，終日而罷。常每與嬪後對酒，時逢興會，輒遣命之至，與同榻共席，恩比友朋。帝猶恨不能夜召，乃命匠刻木為偶人，施機關，能坐起拜伏，以像{巧言}。帝每月下對飲酒，輒令宮人置於座，與相酬酢，而為歡笑。從幸揚州，卒，帝傷惜者久之。贈大將軍，諡曰康。

When Emperor Yang succeeded he was made Secretariat Director and enfeoffed Duke of Hannan county. After court the emperor would have him brought in; they talked, feasted, read, and jested all day. Often when drinking with consorts he would send for Guyan to share couch and mat, treating him as a friend. Still regretting he could not summon him at night, the emperor had craftsmen carve a wooden automaton with mechanisms to sit, rise, bow, and prostrate in Guyan's likeness. Each month under the moon he would drink and have palace women set the figure at his seat to exchange toasts and laugh. Following the emperor to Yangzhou he died; the emperor mourned him long. Posthumously he was made Great General with the posthumous name Kang.

{巧言}撰《晉王北伐記》十五卷，有集十卷行於世。

Guyan compiled fifteen juan of the Record of the Prince of Jin's Northern Campaign and left collected works in ten juan.

許善心，字務本，高陽北新城人也。祖茂、父亨，並《南史》有傳。善心九歲而孤，為母范氏所鞠養。幼聰明，有思理，所聞輒能記，多聞默識，為當世所稱。家有舊書萬餘卷，皆遍通涉。十五解屬文，為箋上父友徐陵，陵大奇之，謂人曰：「此神童也。」太子詹事江總舉秀才，對策高第，授度支郎中，補撰史學士。禎明二年，加通直散騎常侍聘隋。遇文帝伐陳，禮成而不獲反命。累表請辭，上不許。留縶賓館。及陳亡，上遣使告之。善心素服號哭於西階下，藉草東向，經三日，敕書唁焉。明日，有詔就館拜通直散騎常侍，賜衣一襲。善心哭盡哀，入房改服，復出北面立，垂涕再拜受詔。明日，乃朝服泣于殿下，悲不能興。上顧左右曰：「我平陳國，唯獲此人。既能懷其舊君，即我誠臣也。」敕以本官直門下省，賜物千段、草馬二十匹。從幸太山，還，授虞部侍郎。

Xu Shanxin, courtesy name Wuben, was from Beixin in Gaoyang. His grandfather Mao and father Heng both appear in the History of the Southern Dynasties. Orphaned at nine, he was raised by his mother Lady Fan. Clever from youth, he remembered whatever he heard and was famed for silent breadth of learning. The family had more than ten thousand juan of old books, all of which he mastered. At fifteen he could write prose and sent a letter to Xu Ling, who marveled and said, "This is a divine child. Jiang Zong recommended him as xiucai; he ranked high in the examination and was made Director of Revenue and supplementary Drafting Historian. In the second year of Zhenming he was sent as envoy to Sui with the title Regular Attendant of the Direct and Unimpeded Cavalry. When Emperor Wen attacked Chen, the rites were done but he could not return. He repeatedly asked leave; the emperor would not allow it. He was held in the guest lodge. When Chen fell the emperor sent an envoy to tell him. Shanxin wailed in plain dress on the western steps, spread grass, and faced east for three days until an edict condoled with him. Next day an edict at the lodge made him Regular Attendant of the Direct and Unimpeded Cavalry and gave him a suit of clothes. He wept out his grief, changed clothes, came out facing north, and with tears received the edict bowing twice. The next day in court dress he wept below the hall, too stricken to rise. The emperor told those beside him, "In pacifying Chen I gained only this man. One who cherishes his former ruler will be loyal to me. He was ordered to his former post at the Secretariat and given a thousand lengths of goods and twenty rough horses. After accompanying the emperor to Mount Tai he was made Vice Director of the Ministry of Parks.

十六年，有神雀降于含章闥，上召百官賜宴，告以此瑞。善心於坐請紙筆，制《神雀頌》奏之。上甚悅曰：「我見神雀，共皇后觀之。今且召公等入，適述此事。善心於坐始知，即能成頌。文不加點，筆不停毫，常聞此言，今見其事。」因賜物二百段。十七年，除秘書丞。時秘藏圖籍，尚多淆亂。善心效阮孝緒《七錄》，更制《七林》，各總敘冠於篇首。又于部錄之下明作者之意，區分類例焉。又奏追李文博、陸從典等學者十許人，正定經史錯謬。仁壽元年，攝黃門侍郎。二年，加攝太常少卿，與牛弘等議定禮樂，秘書丞、黃門並如故。四年，留守京師。帝崩于仁壽宮，煬帝秘不發喪，先易留宮人，出除岩州刺史。逢漢王諒反，不之任。大業元年，轉禮部侍郎，奏薦儒者徐文遠為國子博士，包愷、陸德明、褚徽、魯世達之輩，並加品秩，授為學官。其年，副納言楊達為冀州道大使，以稱旨，賜物五百段。

In the sixteenth year a divine sparrow alighted at Hanzhang Gate; the emperor feasted the officials and announced the omen. Shanxin asked for brush and paper, wrote the Hymn to the Divine Sparrow, and presented it. The emperor said with delight, "I saw the sparrow with the empress. I have just called you in to tell you of it. Shanxin learned of it only at table yet finished the hymn at once. No revision needed, brush never pausing—I have heard the saying; today I saw it. He granted two hundred lengths of goods. In the seventeenth year he became Secretariat Assistant. Books in the secret repository were still in great disorder. Shanxin took Ruan Xiaoxu's Seven Records as his model and compiled the Seven Forests, with a general preface at the head of each section. Under each departmental catalogue he explained the author's intent and sorted categories and examples. He also asked to recall more than ten scholars including Li Wenbo and Lu Congdian to correct errors in the Classics and histories. In the first year of Renshou he served as acting Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. In the second year he was additionally Acting Junior Minister of Ceremonies; with Niu Hong and others he settled rites and music while keeping his former posts. In the fourth year he was left to guard the capital. When the emperor died at Renshou Palace, Yang kept the death secret, replaced the palace women, and sent Shanxin out as Governor of Yanzhou. When Prince Han of Liang rebelled he never took up the post. In Daye's first year he became Vice Minister of Rites and recommended Xu Wenyuan and others as instructors in the National University. That year, as Yang Da's deputy on the Jizhou mission, he pleased the throne and received five hundred lengths of goods.

左衛大將軍宇文述每日借本部兵數十人以供私役，常半日而罷。御史大夫梁毗奏劾之。上方以腹心委述，初付法官推，千餘人皆稱被役。經二十餘日，法官候伺上旨，乃言役不滿日，其數雖多，不合通計，縱令有實，亦無罪。諸兵士聞之，更雲初不被役。上欲釋之，付議虛實，百僚咸議為虛。善心以為述于仗衛之所，抽兵私役，雖不滿日，闕于宿衛，與常役所部，情狀乃殊。又兵多下番，散還本府，分道追至，不謀同辭。今殆一月，方始翻覆，奸狀分明，此何可舍？蘇威、楊汪等二十餘人同善心議，其餘皆議免罪。煬帝可免者之奏。後數月，述譖善心曰：「陳叔寶卒，善心共周羅碶、虞世基、袁充、蔡徵等同往送葬。善心為祭文，謂為'陛下'。敢於今日加叔寶尊號。」召問有實，自援古例，事得釋，而甚惡之。又太史奏帝即位年與堯時符合，善心議以國哀甫爾，不宜稱賀。述諷御史劾之，左遷給事郎，降品二等。

Yuwen Shu daily impressed dozens of his own troops for private errands, often for only half a day. Imperial Censor Liang Pi impeached him. The emperor trusted Shu; the case went to the judges and over a thousand men said they had been impressed. After twenty days the judges read the emperor's mind and ruled that service did not amount to a full day—no crime even if true. Hearing this, the soldiers then denied they had been impressed at all. The emperor wished to absolve Shu; the officials all called the charges false. Shanxin argued that drawing guards for private labor, even under a day, still breached night watch—and differed from ordinary corvée. Many men were off duty and scattered home; pursued separately they had not agreed in advance. Only after a month did they reverse their story—the fraud was obvious and must not be pardoned. Su Wei, Yang Wang, and twenty others sided with Shanxin; the rest favored acquittal. Emperor Yang approved acquittal. Months later Shu accused Shanxin of attending Chen Shubao's funeral with Zhou Luochen and others. In the sacrificial text Shanxin used 'Your Majesty.' He had dared to give Shubao an imperial title that day. Questioned, he admitted it, cited precedent, and was released—but the emperor hated him for it. When the astrologer said the accession year matched Yao's era, Shanxin said national mourning forbade congratulations. Shu had him impeached; he was demoted to Drafting Attendant and dropped two grades.

四年，撰《方物志》，奏之。七年，從至涿郡。帝方自禦戎以東討，善心上封事，忤旨免官。其年復征守給事郎。帝嘗言及文帝受命之符，因問鬼神之事，敕善心與崔祖浚撰《靈異記》十卷。

In the fourth year he presented his Record of Regional Products. In the seventh year he followed the emperor to Zhuo. As the emperor prepared to campaign east in person, Shanxin's sealed memorial offended him and he was dismissed. That year he was summoned back as Drafting Attendant. Asked about ghosts and spirits, the emperor ordered Shanxin and Cui Zujun to compile the Record of Strange Events in ten juan.

初，善心父撰著《梁史》，未就而歿。善心述成父志，修續家書。其《序傳》末述製作之意，曰：

His father had begun a History of Liang but died before finishing. Shanxin fulfilled his father's aim and continued the family history. At the end of the Autobiographical Account he explained why he wrote, saying:

謹按太素將萌，洪荒初判。乾儀資始，辰象所以正時；坤載厚生，品物於焉播氣。參三才而育德，肖二統而降靈。有黎人焉，為之君長；有貴賤矣，為其宗極。保上天之眷命，膺下土之樂推，莫不執太方，振長策，感召風雲，驅馳英俊。干戈揖讓，取之也殊功；鼎玉龜符，成之也一致。革命創制，竹素之道稍彰；紀事記言，筆墨之官漸著。炎、農以往，存其名而漏其跡；黃、軒以來，晦其文而顯其質。登丘納麓，具訓誥及典謨；貫昴入房，傳夏正與殷祀。洎辨方正位，論時計功。南北左右，兼四名之別；《檮杌》、《乘》車，擅一家之稱。國惡雖諱，君舉必書。故賊子亂臣，天下大懼，元龜明鏡，昭然可察。及三郊遞襲，五勝相沿，俱稱百谷之王，並以四海自任。重光累德，何世無哉。

Inquiry shows: as Grand Simplicity stirred, primordial chaos was first divided. Heaven's pattern begins all things; stars and seasons set the calendar right; Earth bears and nourishes; the myriad creatures breathe there. Harmonizing the three powers to cultivate virtue, shaping the two models to bring down the sacred— the common people received rulers; noble and base found their clan's summit. Heaven's mandate and the people's acclaim: each grasped the great compass, shook the long whip, called up wind and cloud, and drove the worthy. By arms or by yielding—the taking differed; by tripod, jade, and tortoise sign—the completion was one. Revolution made institutions; writing on bamboo and silk slowly emerged; recording deeds and words—the scribe's office slowly rose. From the Flame and Agricultural age, names survived but traces were lost; from the Yellow and August Sovereigns, text was veiled but substance shown. On the hill, at the mountain's foot—instructions and canons were complete; through the stars, into the chamber—Xia's calendar and Yin's rites passed down. Fixing directions and seasons, weighing time and merit— the four quarters each had their name; Tuwu and Sheng each claimed a school. A state's shame might be hidden, but a ruler's acts must be recorded. Rebellious sons and treacherous ministers terrified the world; the mirror and tortoise made guilt plain. Sacrifice followed sacrifice, victory followed victory—each called himself king of grain and lord of the seas. Glory heaped on glory—what age has lacked it?

逮有梁之興，君臨天下，江左建國，莫斯為盛。受命在於一君，繼統傳乎四主。克昌四十八載，餘祚五十六年。武皇帝出自諸生，爰升寶曆。拯百王之弊，救萬姓之危。反澆季之末流，登上皇之獨道。朝多君子，野無遺賢，禮樂必備，憲章咸舉，弘深慈於不殺，濟大忍于無刑。蕩蕩巍巍，可為稱首。屬陰戎入潁，羯胡侵洛。沸騰墋黷，三季之所未聞；掃地滔天，一元之所巨厄。廊廟有序，翦成狐兔之場；圭帛有儀，碎夫犬羊之手。福善積而身禍，仁義存而國亡，豈天道歟？豈人事歟？嘗別論之，在於《序論》之卷。

When Liang rose over the realm, its founding in Jiangzuo was unmatched. One ruler received the mandate; four sovereigns passed the succession. Forty-eight years of splendor; fifty-six of lingering fortune. Emperor Wu rose from the schools to the throne. He ended the abuses of ages and rescued the people from ruin. He turned back decadence and mounted the Supreme Way. Court and countryside brimmed with worthies; rites and laws were complete; mercy deep, punishment rare. Grand and towering—he could stand first. Then northern tribes entered Ying and Jie raiders took Luoyang. Turmoil and slaughter unheard since the three degenerate ages; heaven and earth overturned—the unified realm's great disaster. The court in order became a warren for fox and hare; jade and silk were smashed by dog and goat. Virtue amassed yet the man suffered; benevolence lived yet the state fell—was this Heaven? Or was it man? I have treated this at length in the Prefatory Discourse.

先君昔在前代，早懷述作，凡撰《齊書》為五十卷；《梁書》紀傳，隨事勒成及闕而未就者，目錄注為一百八卷。梁室交喪，墳籍銷盡。塚壁皆殘，不准無所盜；帷囊同毀，陳農何以求！秦儒既坑，先王之道將墜；漢臣徒請，口授之文亦絕。所撰之書，一時亡散。有陳初建，詔為史官，補闕拾遺，心識口誦，依舊目錄，更加修撰，且成百卷，已有六帙五十八卷上秘閣訖。

My father early took up writing; his History of Qi ran fifty juan; his Liang annals and biographies, finished or not, were catalogued at one hundred eight juan. When Liang fell, the archives were burned away. Tomb walls collapsed—nothing left to steal; bags destroyed—nothing left to gather. Qin's burying of scholars nearly ended the ancient Way; Han's vain pleas could not restore orally transmitted texts. His books were lost at once. When Chen began, he was ordered to repair the history; from memory and the old catalogue he brought it to one hundred juan, fifty-eight already in the secret vault.

善心早嬰荼蓼，弗克荷薪，太建之末，頻抗表聞，至德之初，蒙授史任。方願緗素採訪，門庭記錄，俯勵弱才，仰成先志。而單宗少強近，虛室類原、顏，退屏無所交遊，棲遲不求進益。假班嗣之書，徒聞其語；給王隱之筆，未見其人。加以庸瑣涼能，孤陋末學，參職郎署，兼撰《陳史》，致此書延時，未即成續。禎明二年，以台郎入聘，屬本邑淪覆，他鄉播遷，行人失時，將命不復。望都亭而長慟，遷別館而懸壺。家史舊書，在後蕩盡。今止有六卷獲存，又並缺落失次。自入京邑以求，隨見補葺，略成七十卷：四《帝紀》八卷，《后妃》一卷，三《太子錄》一卷，為一帙十卷；《宗室王侯列傳》一帙十卷；《具臣列傳》二帙二十卷；《外戚傳》一卷，《孝德傳》一卷，《誠臣傳》一卷，《文苑傳》二卷，《儒林傳》二卷，《逸人傳》一卷，《數術傳》一卷，《籓臣傳》一卷，合一帙十卷；《止足傳》一卷，《列女傳》一卷，《權幸傳》一卷，《羯賊傳》二卷，《逆臣傳》二卷，《叛臣傳》二卷，《敘傳論述》一卷，合一帙十卷。凡稱史臣者皆先君所言，下稱名案者皆善心補闕。別為《敘論》一篇，托於《敘傳》之末。

I was early orphaned and could not carry the load; only at Zhide did I receive the historian's post. I hoped to collect and record, to bend my small talent and fulfill my father's will. Yet of a solitary clan with few powerful kin, his house empty as Yuan or Yan, he withdrew without companions and lingered without seeking advancement. Borrowing Ban Si's book, he only heard its words; given Wang Yin's brush, he never saw the man. With mediocre talent and shallow learning, he served in the Secretariat while also compiling the History of Chen, so the work was long delayed. In Zhenming year two he went as a mission attendant; his home fell, he wandered abroad, and could not return with his charge. He gazed at the capital pavilion and wept long; at another lodge he hung up his practice. The family's old histories were afterward swept away. Only six juan survived, and even these were defective and out of order. Since entering the capital he patched as he could to roughly seventy juan: four Imperial Annals in eight juan, Consorts one juan, three Crown Prince Records one juan—one fascicle of ten juan; Noble Clans and Marquis Biographies one fascicle of ten juan; Full Ministers Biographies two fascicles of twenty juan; External Kin one juan, Filial Virtue one juan, Loyal Ministers one juan, Literary Grove two juan, Confucian Scholars two juan, Recluses one juan, Number and Arts one juan, Feudatory Ministers one juan—one fascicle of ten juan; Knowing When to Stop one juan, Notable Women one juan, Favorites one juan, Jie Bandits two juan, Rebellious Ministers two juan, Defecting Ministers two juan, Autobiographical Discourse one juan—one fascicle of ten juan. Passages marked "Historian" are the late father's words; those marked "named case" are Shanxin's supplements. He separately composed one Discourse, placed at the end of the Autobiographical Account.

十年，又從至懷遠鎮，加授朝散大夫。突厥圍雁門，攝左親侍武賁郎將，領江南兵宿衛殿省。駕幸江都，追敘前勳，授通議大夫，詔還本品，行給事郎。

In the tenth year he again followed to Huaiyuan garrison and was given additional title Grand Master for Dispersed Affairs. When the Turks besieged Yanmen he acted as Left Guard Attendant and General of the Martial Tiger Guard, leading Jiangnan troops to guard the palace. When the carriage went to Jiangdu, former merit was recalled and he was made Grand Master for Discussion; an edict restored his former rank and he served as Acting Drafting Attendant.

十四年，化及弑逆之日，隋官盡詣朝堂謁賀，善心獨不至。許弘仁馳告曰：「天子已崩，宇文將軍攝政，合朝文武，莫不咸集。天道人事，自有代終，何預叔而低徊若此？」善心怒之，不肯隨去。弘仁返走上馬，泣而言曰：「將軍于叔全無惡意，忽自求死，豈不痛哉！」還告唐奉議，以狀白化及，遣人就宅執至朝堂。化及令釋之，善心不舞蹈而出。化及目送之，曰：「此大負氣。」命捉來，罵云：「我好欲放你，敢如此不遜！」其黨輒牽曳，遂害之。及越王稱制，贈左光祿大夫，封高陽縣公，諡曰文節。

In year fourteen, on the day Huaji murdered the emperor, all Sui officials went to congratulate; only Shanxin stayed away. Xu Hongren hurried to tell him, "The Son of Heaven is dead; General Yuwen holds the regency; all court civil and military have assembled. Heaven's way and human affairs turn and end—why do you linger so? Shanxin was angry and would not go. Hongren turned back, mounted, and wept, "The general meant your uncle no harm; to seek death so suddenly—how painful! He told Tang Fengyi, who reported to Huaji, who sent men to seize him at home and bring him to court. Huaji ordered him released; Shanxin left without the ritual dance of thanks. Huaji watched him go and said, "This man has great spirit. He ordered him seized again and cursed, "I meant to release you—how dare you be so insolent! His followers dragged him off and killed him. When the Prince of Yue assumed power, Shanxin was posthumously made Left Grand Master of the Palace and Duke of Gaoyang, posthumous name Wenjie.

善心母范氏，梁太子中舍人孝才之女也。少寡，養孤，博學有高節。隋文帝知之，敕尚食每獻時新，常遣分賜。嘗詔範入內，侍皇后講讀。封永樂郡君。及善心遇禍，范氏九十有二，臨喪不哭，撫柩曰：「能死國難，我有兒矣。」因臥不食，後十餘日亦終。

Shanxin's mother Lady Fan was daughter of Liang's Crown Prince Attendant Xiaocai. Widowed young, she raised him; learned and of high integrity. Emperor Wen knew her and ordered seasonal delicacies sent from the Imperial Kitchen. She was once summoned to attend the empress in reading and discussion. She was enfeoffed as Lady of Yongle commandery. When Shanxin met disaster, Lady Fan was ninety-two; she did not weep but stroked the coffin and said, "To die for the state—I have a son. She lay down and ate nothing, and after ten days also died.

李文博，博陵人。性貞介鯁直，好學不倦。至於教義名理，特所留心。每讀書至安危得失，忠臣烈士，未嘗不反覆吟玩。開皇中，為羽騎尉。特為吏部侍郎薛道衡所知，恆令在査事帷中，披檢書史，並察己行事。若遇政教善事，即抄撰記錄，如選用疏謬，即委之臧否。道衡每得其語，莫不忻然從之。

Li Wenbo was a man of Boling. By nature upright, firm, and straight; he loved learning without tiring. As for doctrine, meaning, and principle, he paid special attention. Whenever he read of safety and peril, loyal ministers and martyrs, he pondered and recited repeatedly. During Kaihuang he served as Captain of Feathered Riders. Xue Daoheng especially valued him, keeping him in the investigation curtain to examine books and observe his conduct. Good policies he recorded; careless appointments he criticized. Daoheng gladly followed his advice.

後直秘書內省，典校群籍。守道居貧，晏如也。雖衣食乏絕。而清操愈厲，不妄通賓客，恆以禮法自處，儕輩莫不敬焉。道衡知其貧，每延於家，給以資費。文博商略古今政教得失，如指諸掌。然無吏幹。稍遷校書郎，出為縣丞，遂得下考，數歲不調。道衡為司隸大夫，遇之東都尚書省，甚嗟湣之，奏為從事。因謂齊王司馬李綱曰：「今日遂遇文博，得奏用之。」以為歡笑。其見賞知音如此。

Later he served in the inner Secretariat, collating books. He kept the Way and lived in poverty, at ease. Though food and clothing failed, his integrity grew sterner; he received no casual guests and lived by ritual—his peers respected him. Daoheng knew his poverty and often fed and supplied him at home. Wenbo discussed government ancient and modern as if on his palm. Yet he had no administrative skill. Promoted to Collator, then county assistant with a low assessment; for years no new post. As Censor-in-Chief Daoheng met him at the Eastern Capital and pitied him, memorializing to make him an aide. He told Li Gang, "Today I have met Wenbo and can employ him. He said it laughing. Such was how he was prized.

在洛下，曾詣房玄齡，相送出衢路。玄齡謂曰：「公生平志尚，唯在正直。今既得為從事，故應有會素心。比來激濁揚清，所為多少？」文博遂奮臂厲聲曰：「夫清其流者必潔其源，正其末者須端其本。今政源混亂，雖日免十貪郡守，亦何所益！」其率直疾惡，不知忌諱，皆如此類。時朝政浸壞，人多贓賄，唯文博不改其操。論者以此貴之。遭亂播遷，不知所終。

In Luoyang he once visited Fang Xuanling and saw him off to the crossroads. Xuanling said, "Your lifelong aim is uprightness alone. Now as an aide you ought to realize that intent. Recently, stirring the muddy and raising the clear—how much have you done? Wenbo flung his arm and said sharply, "Clear the stream at the source; square the root before the branch. The source of government is confused; dismissing ten greedy prefects a day does no good! His blunt hatred of evil without taboo was all of this kind. Court government rotted and many took bribes; only Wenbo held his course. Critics honored him for this. Caught in disorder, his end is unknown.

初，文博在內省校書，虞世基子亦在其內，盛飾容服而未有所知。文博因從容問之年紀，答云十八。文博乃謂曰：「昔賈誼當此之年，議論何事？君今徒事儀容，欲何為者？」又秦孝王妃生男，文帝大喜，頒賜群官各有差。文博家道屢空，人謂其悅賞。乃云：「賞罰之設，功過所歸。今王妃生男，于群官何事，乃妄受賞也！」其循名責實，錄過計功，必使賞罰不濫，功過無隱皆爾。

When Wenbo collated in the inner province, Yu Shiji's son was there, richly adorned yet knowing nothing. Wenbo asked his age; he answered eighteen. Wenbo said, "At this age Jia Yi discussed state affairs— you attend only to appearance—what do you intend? When Prince Xiao of Qin's consort bore a son, Wen bestowed gifts on officials by rank. Wenbo's house was empty; people thought he rejoiced at the reward. He said, "Rewards and punishments follow merit and fault. A consort bore a son—what is that to the officials, that they rashly take reward! His holding names to deeds and keeping rewards just—all were like this.

文博本為經學，後讀史書，于諸子及論，尤所該洽。性長議論，亦善屬文。著《政道集》十卷，大行於世。

Originally trained in Classics, he later read histories and mastered the masters. He excelled in debate and wrote well. He authored the Collection on the Way of Government in ten juan, widely circulated.

開皇中，又有魏郡侯白，字君素，好學有捷才，性滑稽，尤辯俊。舉秀才，為儒林郎。通侻不持威儀，好為俳諧雜說。人多愛狎之，所在處，觀者如市。楊素甚狎之。素嘗與牛弘退朝，白謂素曰：「日之夕矣。」素大笑曰：「以我為'牛羊下來'邪！」文帝聞其名，召與語，悅之，令于秘書修國史。每將擢用，輒曰「白不勝官'而止。後給五品食，月餘而死。時人傷其薄命。著《旌異記》十五卷，行於世。

In Kaihuang there was also Hou Bai of Wei commandery, Junsu, learned and quick, comical and sharp in debate. Recommended as xiucai, he became Gentleman of the Forest of Learning. Easygoing, without dignified bearing, he loved jesting tales. Many flocked to him; wherever he went crowds gathered. Yang Su was very familiar with him. Su once left court with Niu Hong; Bai said, "The sun is setting. Su laughed, "Do you take me for 'the cattle and sheep come down'!" Wen heard his name, summoned him, was pleased, and had him compile history in the Secretariat. Whenever about to promote him he would say "Bai cannot bear office" and stop. Later given fifth-rank provisions; after a month he died. Contemporaries mourned his short life. He authored the Record of Auspicious Wonders in fifteen juan.

明克讓，字弘道，平原鬲人也。世仕江左。祖僧紹、父山賓，並《南史》有傳。克讓少儒雅，善談論，博涉書史，所覽將萬卷，《三禮》、《論語》，尤所研精，龜策曆象，咸得其要。年十四，釋褐湘東王法曹參軍。時舍人硃異在儀賢堂講《老子》，克讓預焉。堂邊有修竹，異令克讓詠之。克讓攬筆輒成，卒章曰：「非君多愛賞，誰貴此貞心？」異甚奇之。仕梁，位中書侍郎。梁滅，歸長安，引為麟趾殿學士。周武帝即位，為露門學士，令與太史官屬正定新曆。累遷司調大夫，賜爵曆城縣伯。隋文帝受禪，位率更令，進爵為侯。太子以師道處之，恩禮甚厚，每有四方珍味，輒以賜之。時東宮盛征天下才學士。至於博物洽聞，皆出其下。詔與太常牛弘等修禮議樂。當朝典故，多所裁正。以疾去官，加通直散騎常侍，卒。上甚惜之，二宮贈賻甚厚。

Ming Kerang, courtesy name Hongdao, was a man of Ge in Pingyuan. For generations the family served in Jiangzuo. His grandfather Sengshao and father Shanbin both have biographies in the History of the Southern Dynasties. In youth refined and eloquent, he read ten thousand juan; mastered the Three Rites and Analects and the arts of calendar and divination. At fourteen he became Legal Officer to the Prince of Xiangdong. When Zhu Yi lectured on the Laozi in the Hall for Honoring the Worthy, Kerang was present. Tall bamboos stood beside the hall; Yi had Kerang compose on them. He finished at once; the closing line said, "If not for your love and reward, who would prize this steadfast heart? Yi greatly marveled. He served Liang, reaching Secretariat Vice Director. When Liang fell he returned to Chang'an as a Unicorn Toe Hall scholar. When Zhou Emperor Wu succeeded he became a Dew Gate scholar and fixed the new calendar with astronomers. Promoted to Grand Master of the Directorate of Tuning and made Baron of Licheng. When Wen of Sui took the mandate he became Director of Regulated Measures and advanced to Marquis. The Crown Prince treated him as teacher; rare delicacies from the four quarters were given him. The Eastern Palace lavishly recruited scholars from the realm. In learning and comprehensive knowledge all were below him. He was ordered with Niu Hong and others to revise rites and music. He often corrected court precedents. Ill, he left office, was given Regular Attendant of the Direct and Unimpeded Cavalry, and died. The emperor regretted it deeply; both palaces gave generous funeral gifts.

所著《孝經義疏》一部，《古今帝代記》一卷，《文類》四卷，《續名僧記》一卷，集二十卷。

Works: Exegesis of the Filial Piety Classic, Record of Emperors, Literary Categories, Continued Record of Eminent Monks, and twenty juan of collected works.

子余慶，位司門郎。越王侗稱制，為國子祭酒。

His son Yuqing was Director of the Gate Office. When Prince of Yue Tong assumed power, he became National University Libationer.

克讓叔少遐，博涉群書，有詞藻。仕梁，位都官尚書。入齊，甚為名流王元景、陽休之等所禮。皇建中，拜中庶子。卒，贈中書令、揚州司馬。

Kerang's uncle Shaoxia read widely and wrote well. He served Liang as Minister of Justice. In Qi he was honored by Wang Yuanjing, Yang Xiuzhi, and others. During Huangjian he was appointed Junior Tutor. He died and was posthumously Secretariat Director and Yangzhou Major.

劉臻，字宣摯，沛國相人也。父顯，《南史》有傳。臻年十八，舉秀才，為邵陵王東閣祭酒。元帝時，遷中書舍人。江陵平，歸魏為中書侍郎。周塚宰宇文護辟為中外府記室，軍書羽檄，多成其手。後為露門學士，授大都督，封饒陽縣子。曆藍田令、畿伯下大夫。隋文帝受禪，進位儀同三司。左僕射高熲之伐陳也，以臻隨軍主文翰，進爵為伯。皇太子勇引為學士，甚親狎之。

Liu Zhen, courtesy name Xuanzhi, was a man of Xiang in Pei. His father Xian has a biography in the History of the Southern Dynasties. At eighteen he was recommended as xiucai and became Eastern Pavilion Libationer to the Prince of Shaoling. Under Emperor Yuan he became Secretariat Drafter. When Jiangling fell he went to Wei as Secretariat Vice Director. Yuwen Hu recruited him as headquarters recorder; military documents were mostly his. Later a Dew Gate scholar, Grand Commander, Viscount of Raoyang. He was Magistrate of Lantian and Junior Grand Master of the Capital District. When Wen of Sui took the mandate he advanced to Honored Standing of the Third Rank. When Gao Jiong campaigned against Chen, Zhen directed documents and advanced to Duke. Crown Prince Yong brought him in as scholar and was very close to him.

臻無吏幹，又性惚怳，耽經覃思。至於世事，多所遺忘。有劉訥者，亦任儀同，俱為太子學士，情好甚密。臻住城南，訥住城東。臻嘗欲尋訥，謂從者曰：「汝知劉儀同家乎？」從者不知尋訥，謂臻還家，因答曰：「知。」於是引之而去。既扣門，臻尚未悟，謂至訥家，乃據鞍大呼曰：「劉儀同可出矣。」其子迎門，臻驚曰：「汝亦來邪？」其子答曰：「此是大人家。」於是顧眄久之，乃悟，叱從者：「汝大無意，吾欲造劉訥耳！」性好啖蜆，以音同父諱，呼為扁螺，其疏放多此類也。

He had no administrative skill and was absent-minded, absorbed in the Classics. He forgot much of worldly affairs. Liu Ne also held Honored Standing; both were Crown Prince scholars and close friends. Zhen lived south of the city; Ne lived east. Zhen wished to visit Ne and asked attendants, "Do you know Liu Honored Standing's house? Attendants thought he was going home and said, "We know." They led him away. At the gate he thought it was Ne's house and shouted, "Liu Honored Standing, come out! His son met him; Zhen said, "Have you come too?" His son said, "This is our house." He looked about, understood, and scolded the attendants: "I meant to visit Liu Ne!" He loved clams; because the sound matched his father's taboo he called them "flat snails"—such was his heedlessness.

精於兩《漢書》，時人稱為《漢》聖。開皇十八年，卒。有集十卷，行於世。

Expert in both Books of Han, he was called "Sage of the Han." In Kaihuang year eighteen he died. Collected works in ten juan circulated.

諸葛潁，字漢，丹楊建康人也。祖銓，梁零陵太守。父規，義陽太守。潁年十八能屬文，起家邵陵王參軍事，轉記室。侯景之亂，奔齊，曆學士、太子舍人。周氏平齊，不得調，杜門不出者十餘年。習《易》、《圖緯》、《蒼》《雅》、《莊》《老》頗得其要，清辯有俊才。晉王廣素聞其名，引為參軍事，轉記室。及王為太子，除藥藏郎。

Zhuge Ying, courtesy name Han, was a man of Jianye in Danyang. His grandfather Quan was Liang's Administrator of Lingling. His father Gui was Administrator of Yiyang. At eighteen he could write; he served the Prince of Shaoling and became recorder. In Hou Jing's rebellion he fled to Qi as scholar and Crown Prince Attendant. When Zhou pacified Qi he received no post and shut his door ten years. He studied the Changes, apocrypha, glossaries, Zhuangzi and Laozi; clear in debate and talented. Prince Guang had heard of him and made him staff officer and recorder. When the prince became Crown Prince he was Keeper of the Medicine Store.

煬帝即位，遷著作郎，甚見親幸，出入臥內。帝每賜之曲宴，輒與皇后嬪御連席共榻。潁因間隙，多所譖毀，是以時人謂之「冶葛」。後錄恩舊，授朝散大夫。帝嘗賜潁詩，其卒章曰：「參翰長洲苑，侍講肅成門，名理窮研核，英華恣討論。實錄資平允，傳芳導後昆。」其待遇如此。從征吐谷渾，加正議大夫。從駕北巡，卒於道。

When Yang succeeded he was Drafting Historian, favored in the inner quarters. At private banquets he shared couch and mat with empress and consorts. He used openings to slander many; people called him "refining poison." Later, for old favor, he was made Grand Master for Dispersed Affairs. The emperor gave him a poem ending: "Joining drafts at Changqiu, lecturing at Suicheng, exhausting principle, letting brilliance roam. True records rely on fairness; transmitting fragrance guides posterity. Such was his treatment. On the Tuyuhun campaign he was made Grand Master for Correct Discussion. On the northern tour he died on the road.

潁性褊急，與柳{巧言}每相忿鬩。帝屢責怒之，而猶不止。于後帝亦薄之。有集二十卷，撰《鑾駕北巡記》三卷，《幸江都道里記》一卷，《洛陽古今記》一卷，《馬名錄》二卷，並行於世。有子嘉會。

Impatient by nature, he constantly quarreled with Liu Guyan. The emperor repeatedly rebuked him, yet he did not stop. Afterward the emperor also cooled toward him. Twenty juan of works plus records of the northern tour, the Jiangdu road, Luoyang, and horse names—all circulated. He had a son Jiahui.

虞綽，字士裕，會稽餘姚人也。父孝曾，陳始興王諮議。綽身長八尺，姿儀甚偉，博學有俊才，尤工草隸。陳左衛將軍傅縡，有盛名於世，見綽詞賦，歎美之。仕陳，為太學博士，遷永陽王記室。及陳亡，晉王廣引為學士。大業初，轉為秘書學士，奉詔與秘書郎虞世南，著作佐郎庾自直等撰《長洲玉鏡》等書十餘部。綽所筆削，帝未嘗不稱善，而官竟不遷。初為校書郎，以籓邸左右，授宣惠尉，遷著作佐郎。與虞世南、庾自直、蔡允恭等四人常直禁中，以文翰待詔，恩眄隆洽。從征遼東，帝舍臨海，頻見大鳥，異之，詔綽為銘。帝覽而善之，命有司勒於海上。以度遼功，授建節尉。

Yu Chuo, courtesy name Shiyu, was a man of Yuyao in Kuaiji. His father Xiaoceng was adviser to Chen's Prince of Shixing. Chuo stood eight chi, fine in bearing; learned and talented, skilled in cursive and clerical script. Fu Zai of Chen was famed; seeing Chuo's fu he praised him. He served Chen as National University Doctor and recorder to the Prince of Yongyang. When Chen fell Prince Guang brought him in as scholar. At Daye's start he became Secretariat Scholar and compiled works such as the Jade Mirror of Changqiu with Yu Shinan and Yu Zizhi. Whatever Chuo edited the emperor praised, yet he was never promoted. First Collator, then Captain for Promoting Grace, then Drafting Historian in the prince's household. With Yu Shinan, Yu Zizhi, and Cai Yungong he constantly awaited edicts within the palace; favor was thick. At Linhai on the Liaodong campaign great birds appeared; the emperor ordered Chuo to compose an inscription. The emperor approved and ordered it carved on the seashore. For merit crossing Liao he was made Captain for Establishing the Command.

綽恃才任氣，無所降下。著作郎諸葛潁以學業幸於帝，綽每輕侮之，由是有隙。帝嘗問綽於潁，潁曰：「虞綽粗疏人也。」帝頷之。時禮部尚書楊玄感稱其貴踞，虛己禮之，與結布衣之友。綽數從之遊。其族人虞世南誡之曰：「上性猜忌，而君過厚玄感。若與絕交者，帝知君改悔，可以無咎。不然終當見禍。」綽不從。尋有告綽以禁內兵書借玄感，帝甚銜之。及玄感敗，其妓妾併入宮，帝因問之曰：「玄感平常時與何人交往？」其妾以虞綽對。帝令大理卿鄭善果窮理其事。綽曰：「羈旅薄游，與玄感文酒談款，實無他謀。」帝怒不解，徙綽于邊。綽至長安而亡。吏逮之急，於是潛度江，變姓名，自稱吳卓。游東陽，抵信安令天水辛大德舍。歲餘，綽與人爭田相訟，因有識綽者而告之，竟為吏所執，坐斬江都。所有詞賦，並行於世。

Chuo relied on talent and bowed to no one. Zhuge Ying was favored for learning; Chuo slighted him and they became enemies. The emperor asked Ying about Chuo; Ying said, "Yu Chuo is coarse and careless. The emperor nodded. Minister of Rites Yang Xuangan treated him with empty courtesy and became his friend. Chuo often visited him. Shinan admonished him: "The emperor is suspicious, yet you are too close to Xuanzhi. Break with him and the emperor may spare you. Otherwise disaster will come. Chuo did not listen. Soon someone reported Chuo lent forbidden military books to Xuanzhi; the emperor resented it. When Xuanzhi failed his concubines entered the palace; the emperor asked whom he associated with. A concubine named Yu Chuo. The emperor ordered Zheng Shanguo of the Ministry of Justice to investigate. Chuo said, "A sojourner; with Xuanzhi I shared wine and talk—no other plot. The emperor was not appeased; Chuo was banished. Chuo reached Chang'an and fled. Pursued hotly, he crossed the river, changed his name to Wu Zhuo. In Dongyang he came to Magistrate Xin Dade of Xin'an. After a year Chuo disputed land in court; recognized, seized, and executed at Jiangdu. All his rhapsodies and fu circulated.

大德為令，誅翦群盜，甚得人和。與綽俱為使者所執，其妻泣曰：「每諫君無匿學士。今日之事，豈不哀哉！」大德笑曰：「我本圖脫長者，乃為人告之，吾罪也，當死以謝綽。」會有詔，死罪得以擊賊自效。信安吏人詣使者叩頭曰：「辛君人命所懸，不然亦無信安矣。」使者留之以討賊。帝怒，斬使者。大德獲全。

As magistrate Dade suppressed bandits and won the people. Seized with Chuo, his wife wept, "I always told you not to harbor scholars. Today—is it not pitiful! Dade laughed, "I meant to free him; being reported is my fault—I should die for Chuo." An edict allowed death sentences to be redeemed by fighting bandits. Xin'an people kowtowed to the envoy: "Magistrate Xin's life is our life. The envoy kept him to fight bandits. The emperor executed the envoy in anger. Dade was spared.

王胄，字承基，琅邪臨沂人也。祖筠、父祥，並《南史》有傳。胄少有逸才，仕陳，曆太子舍人、東陽王文學。及陳滅，晉王廣引為博士。仁壽末，從劉方擊林邑，以功授帥都督。大業初，為著作佐郎，以文詞為煬帝所重。帝嘗自東都還京師，賜天下大酺四日。為五言詩，詔群官詩成者奏之。帝覽胄詩而善之，因謂侍臣曰：「氣高致遠，歸之於胄；詞清體潤，其在世基；意密理新，惟庾自直。過此者未可以言詩也。」帝所有篇什，多令繼和。與虞綽齊名，同志友善，于時後進之士，咸以二人為准的。從征遼東，進授朝散大夫。

Wang Zhou, courtesy name Chengji, was a man of Linyi in Langye. His grandfather Jun and father Xiang both have biographies in the History of the Southern Dynasties. In youth talented; in Chen he was Crown Prince Attendant and Literary Scholar to the Prince of Dongyang. When Chen fell Prince Guang made him Doctor. At Renshou's end he followed Liu Fang against Lin Yi and became Commander-in-Chief. At Daye's start he was Drafting Historian, valued by Emperor Yang. The emperor returned from the Eastern Capital and granted a four-day feast to the realm. He composed pentasyllabic verse and ordered finished poems presented. Reading Zhou's poem, he told attendants, "Lofty spirit belongs to Zhou; clear style to Shiji; dense thought and fresh principle to Yu Zizhi alone. Beyond these one cannot speak of poetry. Whatever the emperor wrote he often had Zhou harmonize. Equal in fame to Yu Chuo; younger writers took both as standard. On the Liaodong campaign he was advanced to Grand Master for Dispersed Affairs.

胄性疏率不倫，自恃才伐，鬱鬱於官。每負氣陵傲，忽略時人。為諸葛潁所嫉，屢譖之於帝，帝愛其才而不罪。禮部尚書楊玄感虛襟與交，數遊其第。及玄感敗，與虞綽徙邊。胄遂亡匿，潛還江左。為吏所捕，坐誅。所著詞賦，多行於世。

Careless and unrestrained, arrogant in talent, depressed in office. He often looked down on contemporaries. Zhuge Ying envied and slandered him; the emperor loved his talent and spared him. Yang Xuangan befriended him and often visited. When Xuanzhi failed he was banished with Yu Chuo. Zhou fled and secretly returned to Jiangzuo. Officers seized him and he was executed. His rhapsodies and fu mostly circulated.

庾自直，潁川人。父持，《南史》有傳。少好學，沈靜寡欲。仕陳，曆豫章王府外兵參軍、記室。陳亡入關，不得調。晉王廣聞之，引為學士。大業初，授著作佐郎。自直解屬文，于五言詩尤善。性恭慎，不妄交遊。特為帝所愛，有篇章必先示自直，令其詆訶。自直所難，帝輒改之。或至於再三，俟其稱善，然後方出。其見親禮如此。後以本官知起居舍人事。化及作逆，與之北上，自載露車中，感激發病卒。有文集十卷，行於世。

Yu Zizhi was a man of Yingchuan. His father Chi has a biography in the History of the Southern Dynasties. In youth he loved learning; quiet and with few desires. In Chen he was External Military Attendant and recorder to the Prince of Yuzhang. When Chen fell he entered the pass and received no post. Prince Guang brought him in as scholar. At Daye's start he was Drafting Historian. Zizhi wrote prose and excelled at pentasyllabic poetry. Respectful and cautious, he did not casually associate. The emperor especially loved him; new pieces went first to Zizhi for criticism. What Zizhi criticized the emperor revised. Sometimes two or three revisions—only when Zizhi praised it was it released. Such was his treatment. Later he also managed the Diarist of the Imperial Progress. When Huaji rebelled he went north in an open cart, fell ill and died. Collected works in ten juan circulated.

潘徽，字伯彥，吳郡人也。性聰敏，少受《禮》于鄭灼，受《毛詩》于施公，受《書》于張沖，講《莊》、《老》于張譏，並通大義。尤精《三史》。善屬文，能持論。中書令江總引致文儒之士，徽一詣總，甚敬之。釋褐新蔡王國侍郎，選為客館令。隋遣魏澹聘于陳，陳人使徽接對之。澹將反命，為啟于陳主曰：「敬奉弘慈，曲垂餞送。」徽以餞送為重，敬奉為輕，卻其啟而不奏。澹曰：「《曲禮》云：主敬客。《詩》曰：'維桑與梓，必恭敬止'。《孝經》：'宗廟致敬。 '又云：'不敬其親，謂之悖禮。 '孔子敬天之怒，成湯聖敬日躋。宗廟極重，上天極高，父極尊，君極貴，四者咸同一敬，《五經》未有異文。不知以敬為輕，竟何所據？」徽難之曰：「向所論敬字，本不全以為輕，但施用處殊，義成通別。禮主於敬，此是通言。猶如男子冠而字之，注云：'成人，敬其名也。 '《春秋》有冀缺，夫妻亦云相敬。於子則有敬名之義，在夫亦有敬妻之說，此可復並謂極高極尊乎？至若敬謝諸公，固非尊地；公子敬愛，止施賓友；敬問敬報，彌見雷同；敬聽敬酬，何關貴隔。當知敬之為義，雖是不輕，但敬之於語，則有時混漫。今雲敬奉，所以成疑。聊舉一隅，未為深據。」澹不能對，遂從而改焉。

Pan Hui, courtesy name Boyan, was a man of Wu commandery. Intelligent; studied Rites, Mao Odes, Documents, Zhuangzi and Laozi with masters. Especially expert in the Three Histories. Skilled at prose and debate. Jiang Zong introduced scholars; Hui visited once and was greatly respected. First Gentleman of Xincai, then Director of the Guest Lodge. Sui sent Wei Dan to Chen; Chen had Hui receive him. Dan's note to the Chen ruler said, "Respectfully receiving kindness, graciously granted send-off. Hui held send-off weighty and respectful reception light; he returned the note unread. Dan cited the Record of Rites: the host respects the guest. The Odes: mulberry and catalpa—reverence must stop. Filial Piety: in the ancestral temple show reverence. Also: not revering kin is contrary ritual. Confucius revered heaven's anger; Cheng Tang's reverence daily ascended. Temple, heaven, father, ruler—all one reverence; the Five Classics agree. On what basis is reverence light—what is your evidence? Hui rebutted: reverence is not wholly light, but usage differs. Rites chiefly rest on reverence—the general saying. As when a man is capped: as an adult, reverence for his name. Spring and Autumn has Ji Que; husband and wife speak mutual reverence. Sons revere names; husbands revere wives—are these all supremely noble? Reverent thanks to lords is not a place of honor; a prince's reverent love is for guests and friends; reverent inquiry and reply appear identical; reverent listening and response—what has it to do with rank? Reverence is not light, but in language sometimes diffuse. Now 'respectfully receiving' raises doubt. One corner offered—not deep evidence. Dan could not reply and changed it.

隋時有常得志、尹式、劉善經、祖君彥、孔德紹、劉斌，並有才名，事多遺逸。

In Sui were Chang Dezhi, Yin Shi, Liu Shanjing, Zu Junyan, Kong Deshao, and Liu Bin—famed writers mostly lost to record.

尹式，河間人。仁壽中，官至漢王記室。漢王阻兵，式自殺。其族人正卿、彥卿亦俱有俊才，名顯於世。

Yin Shi was a man of Hejian. In Renshou he was Recorder to the Prince of Han. When the Prince of Han rebelled Shi killed himself. Clansmen Zhengqing and Yanqing also had outstanding talent.

劉善經，河間人。曆著作佐郎、太子舍人。著《酬德傳》三十卷，《諸劉譜》三十卷，《四聲指歸》一卷，行於世。

Liu Shanjing was a man of Hejian. He served as Drafting Historian and Crown Prince Attendant. He authored Record of Repaying Virtue, Genealogy of the Liu Clan, and Guide to the Four Tones.

祖君彥，見其父珽傳。

Zu Junyan—see his father Ting's biography.

孔德紹，會稽人。有清才，官至京城縣丞。竇建德署為中書令，專典書檄。及建德敗，伏誅。

Kong Deshao was a man of Kuaiji. Pure talent; Assistant Magistrate of the Capital District. Dou Jiande made him Secretariat Director in charge of documents. When Jiande failed he was executed.

劉斌，南陽人。祖之遴，《南史》有傳。斌頗有詞藻，官至信都司功書佐。竇建德署為中書舍人。建德敗，復為劉黑闥中書侍郎。與黑闥亡歸突厥，不知所終。

Liu Bin was a man of Nanyang. His grandfather Zhitui has a biography in the History of the Southern Dynasties. Bin had literary talent and was Secretary in the Merit Office of Xindu. Jiande appointed him Secretariat Drafter. When Jiande failed he served Liu Heitong as Drafting Attendant. Fleeing with Heitong to the Turks, his end is unknown.

論曰：古人之所貴名不朽者，蓋重言之尚存。王褒、庾信、顏之推、虞世基、柳{巧言}、許善心、明克讓、劉臻、王貞、虞綽、王胄等，並極南土譽望，又加之以才名，其為貴顯，固其宜也。自餘或位下人微，居常亦何能自達。及其靈蛇可握，天綱俱頓，並編緗素，咸貫辭林。雖其位可下，其身可殺，千載之外，貴賤一焉。非此道也，孰云能致？凡百士子，可不務乎！

The discourse says: ancients prized undying name because words remain. Wang Bao, Yu Xin, Yan Zhitui, Yu Shiji, Liu Guyan, Xu Shanxin, Ming Kerang, Liu Zhen, Wang Zhen, Yu Chuo, Wang Zhou, and the rest had the highest southern fame; with talent added, eminence was fitting. As for the rest, some were low in rank and obscure; in ordinary life how could they make themselves known? But when their moment came and fortune turned, all were written into books and entered the canon of letters. Though rank could be stripped and life taken, a thousand years hence noble and base are alike. Without this path, who could attain it? Should not every scholar pursue it!

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