1
易曰「觀乎人文以化成天下」，孔子曰「煥乎其有文章」也。 自楚、漢以降，辭人世出，洛汭、江左，其流彌暢。 莫不思侔造化，明並日月，大則憲章典謨，裨贊王道，小則文理清正，申紓性靈。 至於經禮樂，綜人倫，通古今，述美惡，莫尚乎此。 後主嗣業，雅尚文詞，傍求學藝，煥乎俱集。 每臣下表疏及獻上賦頌者，躬自省覽，其有辭工，則神筆賞激，加其爵位，是以搢紳之徒，咸知自勵矣。 若名位文學晃著者，別以功跡論。 今綴杜之偉等學既兼文，備于此篇云爾。
In the Book of Changes we read, "Look upon the patterns of culture and thereby transform the world"; Confucius said, "How radiant its patterns are." Since the age of Chu and Han, writers have appeared in every generation; at Luoyang and in the lands south of the Yangzi, the stream of letters has run ever wider. Each sought to equal Heaven and Earth in craft and the sun and moon in brilliance; on the large scale they patterned themselves on the ancient canons to support the royal Way, on the small they refined clear prose to release what lay in the heart. For threading ritual and music, binding human relations, opening past and present, and telling good from evil, nothing stands higher. When the Last Ruler came to the throne he prized fine writing, gathered learning from every quarter, and had brilliance heaped together. Whenever a subject sent up a memorial or offered a fu or song, he read it himself; if the diction was strong, his own hand praised and promoted the writer and raised his rank—so office-holders everywhere took the hint to strive. Men whose names, offices, and letters stood out conspicuously are treated elsewhere, judged by achievement. What follows records Du Zhiwei and others who united scholarship with letters, gathered in this chapter.
2
徐伯陽張正見蔡凝阮卓
Xu Boyang; Zhang Zhengjian; Cai Ning; Ruan Zhuo
3
杜之偉
Du Zhiwei
4
杜之偉字子大，吳郡錢塘人也。 家世儒學，以三禮專門。 父規，梁奉朝請，與光祿大夫濟陽江革、都官尚書會稽孔休源友善。
Du Zhiwei, style name Zida, came from Qiantang in Wu commandery. For generations his house had pursued Confucian study, with the Three Rites as their specialty. His father Gui served Liang as a court attendant and was on close terms with Jiang Ge of Jiyang, grand master for the bright and pure, and Kong Xiuyuan of Kuaiji, director of the ministry of punishment.
5
之偉幼精敏，有逸才。 七歲，受尚書，稍習詩、禮，略通其學。 十五，遍觀文史及儀禮故事，時輩稱其早成。 僕射徐勉嘗見其文，重其有筆力。 中大 （同） 〔通〕元年，梁武帝幸同泰寺捨身，敕勉撰定儀註，〔一〕勉以臺閣先無此禮，召之偉草具其儀。 乃啟補東宮學士，與學士劉陟等鈔撰群書，各為題目。 所撰富教、政道二篇，皆之偉為序。 及湘陰侯蕭昂為江州刺史，以之偉掌記室。 〔二〕昂卒，廬陵王續代之，又手教招引，之偉固辭不應命，乃送昂喪柩還京。 仍侍臨 （成） 〔城〕公讀。 〔三〕尋除揚州議曹從事、南康嗣王墨曹參軍，兼太學限內博士。 〔大同〕七年，〔四〕梁皇太子釋奠於國學，時樂府無孔子、顏子登哥詞，〔五〕尚書參議令之偉制其文，伶人傳習，以為故事。 轉補安前邵陵王田曹參軍，又轉刑獄參軍。 之偉年位甚卑，特以彊識俊才，頗有名當世，吏部尚書張纘深知之，以為廊廟器也。
As a boy Zhiwei was quick and sharp, with gifts beyond his years. At seven he took up the Documents, then little by little the Odes and Rites, until he had a working grasp of each. By fifteen he had ranged through literature and history, ritual usage and antiquities; contemporaries hailed him as early-matured. Vice Director Xu Mian once read his work and prized its vigor of style. Collation variant: Zhongda. Collation variant: (Datong). Collation variant: [Tong]; adopted reading: In the first year, Emperor Wu of Liang went to Tongtai Temple to "yield his person" in the Buddhist rite and ordered Mian to set down the ceremonial rules. [1] Mian replied that the palace had no precedent for it and called Zhiwei to sketch the forms. He was soon made a supplemental academician in the eastern palace and, with Liu Zhi and the other academicians, excerpted the libraries, each assigned a theme. Of the two treatises he wrote, "Enriching Instruction" and "The Way of Government," Zhiwei supplied the prefaces for both. When Xiao Ang, Marquis of Xiangyin, took up the Jiangzhou inspectorate, he put Zhiwei in charge of his secretariat. [2] When Ang died, Xiao Xu of Luling succeeded him and again wrote in his own hand to recruit Zhiwei; Zhiwei refused outright, saw Ang's bier home to the capital, and would not take the post. He still attended the Lin Collation variant: (Cheng). Collation variant: [city]; adopted reading: He continued as companion to the Duke of Lincheng for his lessons. [3] Before long he was made deliberation staff officer in Yangzhou, secretariat aide to the Prince of Nankang, and at the same time an inner-limit erudite of the national university. Collation variant: [Datong]; adopted reading: In the seventh year, [4] the Liang crown prince offered the Confucian libation at the national university. The Music Office then lacked ascending-song words for Confucius and Yan Hui; [5] the secretariat deliberator had Zhiwei write them. The performers learned and kept them, and they became custom. He was reassigned as field-office aide to the Prince of Shaoling, then as prison-office aide. Zhiwei was still young and low in rank, yet his encyclopedic mind and sharp gifts had already made him a name; Personnel Director Zhang Zuan saw him clearly and treated him as a future pillar of the court.
6
侯景反，之偉逃竄山澤。 及高祖為丞相，素聞其名，召補記室參軍。 遷中書侍郎，領大著作。 高祖受禪，除鴻臚卿，餘並如故。 之偉啟求解著作，曰：「臣以紹泰元年，忝中書侍郎，掌國史，于今四載。 臣本庸賤，謬蒙盼識，思報恩獎，不敢廢官。 皇曆惟新，驅馭軒、昊，記言記事，未易其人，著作之材，更宜選眾。 御史中丞沈炯、尚書左丞徐陵、梁前兼大著作虞荔、梁前黃門侍郎孔奐，或清文贍筆，或彊識稽古，遷、董之任，允屬群才，臣無容遽變市朝，〔六〕再妨賢路。 堯朝皆讓，誠不可追，陳力就列，庶幾知免。」 優敕不許。 尋轉大匠卿，遷太中大夫，仍敕撰梁史。 永定三年卒，時年五十二。 高祖甚悼惜之，詔贈通直散騎常侍，賻錢五萬，布五十匹，棺一具，剋日舉哀。
When Hou Jing rose in rebellion, Zhiwei hid in the hills and marshes. Once the Founder was chief minister he had long known Zhiwei's reputation and called him in as a supplemental secretariat aide. He was promoted to palace secretariat gentleman and at the same time directed the grand history office. When the Founder took the throne he was made grand master of splendid felicity while keeping his other offices. Zhiwei asked to resign the history directorship, writing: "In the first year of Shaotai (555) I was undeservedly made palace secretariat gentleman and have kept the national annals for four years now. I am by nature mean and unworthy, yet was noticed and favored; I wished to repay that kindness and did not dare leave my post. The dynasty is new, the court rides under broad heaven, and to set down speech and deed is work for no single hand; the post of compiler ought to go to worthier men. Censor-in-chief Shen Jiong, left vice director Xu Ling, Liang's former concurrent grand compiler Yu Li, and Liang's former yellow-gate gentleman Kong Huan—some write with clarity and fullness, some remember deeply and know the old—are fit for the work of Qian and Dong; I have no excuse to bolt from court again [6] and block better men. Even in Yao's time men stepped aside—that cannot be matched now; let me serve where I belong, and perhaps I may be released." The emperor's gracious edict refused him. He was soon made grand master of works, then grand master for the palace, and still charged with compiling the Liang history. In Yongding year 3 (559) he died at fifty-two. The Founder grieved him deeply and ordered him posthumously made direct and upright attendant of the scattered cavalry, with fifty thousand cash in funeral gift, fifty bolts of cloth, one coffin, and a set day for the mourning service.
7
之偉為文，不尚浮華，而溫雅博贍。 所製多遺失，存者十七卷。
Zhiwei's prose shunned ornament; it was mild, refined, and rich. Most of his writings are gone; seventeen scrolls remain.
8
顏晃字元明，琅邪臨沂人也。 少孤貧，好學，有辭采。 解褐梁邵陵王兼記室參軍。 時東宮學士庾信嘗使于府中，王使晃接對，信輕其尚少，曰「此府兼記室幾人」？ 晃答曰「猶當少於宮中學士」。 當時以為善對。
Yan Huang, style name Yuanming, came from Linyi in Langye. He lost his father early and grew up poor, yet loved study and had a gift for words. On first taking office he became a concurrent secretariat aide on the Prince of Shaoling's staff under Liang. Once when eastern-palace academician Yu Xin was sent to the prince's house, the prince had Huang answer him. Xin, thinking him too young, asked, "How many concurrent secretariat aides has this establishment, anyway?" Huang answered, "Still fewer than the academics inside the palace." Contemporaries judged it a sharp reply.
9
侯景之亂，西奔荊州。 承聖初，除中書侍郎。 時杜龕為吳興太守，專好勇力，其所部多輕險少年，元帝患之，乃使晃管其書翰。 仍敕龕曰：「卿年時尚少，習讀未晚，顏晃文學之士，使相毗佐，造次之閒，必宜諮稟。」 及龕誅，晃歸世祖，世祖委以書記，親遇甚篤。 除宣毅府中錄事，兼記室參軍。
During Hou Jing's rebellion he fled west to Jingzhou. At the opening of Chengsheng he was appointed palace secretariat gentleman. Du Kan was then grand administrator of Wuxing and cared only for bold fighting; his commandery teemed with hotheaded youths, which troubled Emperor Yuan, who put Huang in charge of Kan's documents. The emperor also told Kan: "You are still young and can still learn. Yan Huang is a literary man—let him stand beside you; even in passing affairs you must ask his counsel." After Kan was killed, Huang entered Emperor Wen's service; the emperor gave him charge of documents and treated him with exceptional closeness. He was made recorder on the Xuanyi staff and concurrent secretariat aide.
10
永定二年，高祖幸大莊嚴寺，其夜甘露降，晃獻甘露頌，詞義該典，高祖甚奇之。 天嘉初，遷員外散騎常侍，兼中書舍人，掌詔誥。 三年卒，時年五十三。 詔贈司農卿，謚曰貞子，并賜墓地。
In Yongding year 2 (558) the Founder went to the Great Zhuangyan Monastery; sweet dew fell that night, and Huang offered a "Sweet Dew" eulogy, learned and apt in phrasing—the Founder was astonished. Early in Tianjia he rose to supernumerary attendant of the scattered cavalry and concurrent palace secretariat attendant, drafting edicts. In Tianjia year 3 (562) he died at fifty-three. He was posthumously made minister of public works, titled Baron of Integrity, and given a grave plot besides.
11
晃家世單門，傍無戚援，而介然脩立，為當世所知。 其表奏詔誥，下筆立成，便得事理，而雅有氣質。 有集二十卷。
His house was a lone branch without kin to lean on, yet he held himself upright and won notice in his time. Memorials and edicts from his hand came whole as soon as he wrote and always struck the point, yet kept a noble tone. A collection of twenty scrolls survives.
12
江德藻
Jiang Decao
13
江德 （操） 〔藻〕字德藻，〔七〕濟陽考城人也。 祖柔之，齊尚書倉部郎中。 父革，梁度支尚書、光祿大夫。
Jiang De Collation variant: (Cao). Collation variant: [Decao]; styled Decao, [7] from Kaocheng in Jiyang. His grandfather Rouzhi had been a Qi director in the granaries section of the revenue ministry. His father Ge served Liang as director of revenue and grand master for the bright and pure.
14
德藻好學，善屬文。 美風儀，身長七尺四寸。 性至孝，事親盡禮。 與異產昆弟居，恩惠甚篤。 起家梁南中郎武陵王行參軍。 大司馬南平王蕭偉聞其才，召為東閤祭酒。 遷安西湘東王府外兵參軍，尋除尚書比部郎，以父憂去職。 服闋之後，容貌毀瘠，如居喪時。 除安西武陵王記室，不就。 久之，授廬陵王記室參軍。 除廷尉正，尋出為南兗州治中。 及高祖為司空、征北將軍，引德藻為府諮議。 轉中書侍郎，遷雲麾臨海王長史。 陳臺建，拜尚書吏部侍郎。
Decao loved study and wrote well. He was handsome in bearing, seven chi four cun tall. He was deeply filial and waited on his parents with complete propriety. He dwelt with uterine brothers and was warm and generous toward them. He began as a traveling aide on the Prince of Wuling's staff in the southern army of the center. Grand Marshal Xiao Wei, Prince of Nanping, heard of his gifts and made him eastern-pavilion libationer. He was transferred to outer-army aide on the western staff of the Prince of Xiangdong, then made a comparison-section director in the ministry of punishment, and resigned when his father died. When mourning was over he was still gaunt and worn, as though the coffin had not long left the house. He was appointed secretariat master to the Prince of Wuling on the western army staff but declined. Only after a long interval was he made secretariat aide to the Prince of Luling. He became director of the Court of Judicial Review, then left the capital as senior aide of South Xuzhou. When the Founder was minister of works and northern campaign general, he drew Decao in as a staff deliberator. He was promoted to palace secretariat gentleman, then chief clerk to the Prince of Linhai in the cloud-banners guard. When Chen was founded he was made vice director in the ministry of personnel.
15
高祖受禪，授祕書監，兼尚書左丞。 尋以本官兼中書舍人。 天嘉四年，兼散騎常侍，與中書郎劉師知使齊，〔八〕著北征道理記三卷。 還拜太子中庶子，領步兵校尉。 頃之遷御史中丞，坐公事免。 尋拜振遠將軍、通直散騎常侍。 自求宰縣，出補新喻令，政尚恩惠，頗有異績。 六年，卒於官，時年五十七。 世祖甚悼惜之，詔贈散騎常侍。 所著文筆十五卷。
At the Founder's accession he became director of the secretariat and concurrently left vice director in the Masters of Writing. Shortly afterward he was also made palace secretariat attendant while keeping his prior post. In Tianjia year 4 (563) he was further made attendant of the scattered cavalry and, with Liu Shizhi of the palace secretariat, went on embassy to Qi; [8] he wrote Record of the Roads of the Northern Expedition in three scrolls. Back home he was appointed junior mentor to the heir apparent and colonel of footsoldiers. Soon he was made censor-in-chief, then removed for a fault in office. He was soon restored as general who shakes the distance and direct and upright attendant of the scattered cavalry. He sought a county post of his own accord and was sent out as magistrate of Xinyu, ruling with grace and leaving an unusual record. In the sixth year he died in his post at fifty-seven. Emperor Wen grieved him deeply and posthumously made him attendant of the scattered cavalry. His writings fill fifteen scrolls.
16
子椿，亦善屬文，歷太子庶子、尚書左丞。
His son Chun also wrote well and rose to junior mentor to the heir apparent and left vice director in the Masters of Writing.
17
庾持字允德，〔九〕潁川鄢陵人也。 祖佩玉，宋長沙內史。 父〔沙〕彌，〔一０〕梁長城令。
Yu Chi, style name Yunde, [9] came from Yanling in Yingchuan. His grandfather Peiyu had been Song interior governor of Changsha. His father, collation variant: [Sha] Mi, [10] had been magistrate of Changcheng under Liang.
18
持少孤，性至孝，居父憂過禮。 篤志好學，尤善書記，以才藝聞。 解褐梁南平王國左常侍、輕車河東王府行參軍，兼尚書郎，尋而為真。 出為安吉令，遷鎮東邵陵王府限外記室，兼建康令。 天監初，世祖與持有舊，〔一一〕及世祖為吳興太守，以持為郡丞，兼掌書翰，自是常依文帝。 文帝剋張彪，鎮會稽，又令持監臨海郡。 以貪縱失民和，為山盜所劫，幽執十旬，世祖遣劉澄討平之，持乃獲免。 高祖受禪，授安東臨川王府諮議參軍。 天嘉初，遷尚書左丞。 以預長城之功，封崇德縣子，邑三百戶。 拜封之日，請令史為客，受其餉遺，世祖怒之，因坐免。 尋為宣惠始興王府諮議參軍。 除臨安令，坐杖殺縣民免封。 〔一二〕 （遷） 〔還〕為給事黃門侍郎。 〔一三〕除稜威將軍、鹽官令。 光大元年，遷祕書監，知國史事。 又為少府卿，領羽林監。 遷太中大夫，領步兵校尉。 太建元年卒，時年六十二。 詔贈光祿大夫。
Chi lost his father early, was deeply filial by nature, and in mourning went beyond the prescribed rites. He was steadfast in study, especially skilled at documents and records, and won renown for talent and literary craft. He began his career as left regular attendant in the Prince of Nanping's kingdom, acting retainer in the Prince of Hedong's light-chariot staff, and concurrent master of writing; soon he held the post in full. He served as magistrate of Anji, then became out-of-quota recorder to the Prince of Shaoling and concurrent magistrate of Jiankang. At the start of Tianjian, Emperor Wen and Chi were old acquaintances [11]. When Emperor Wen became administrator of Wu Xing, he made Chi assistant administrator and put him in charge of documents; from then on Chi always followed Emperor Wen. When Emperor Wen defeated Zhang Biao and garrisoned Kuaiji, he again had Chi oversee Linhai commandery. Through greedy excess he lost popular support; mountain bandits seized and held him in secret for a hundred days. Emperor Wen sent Liu Cheng to suppress them, and Chi was only then released. When the Founder received the Mandate, Chi was made adviser to the pacifying-east Prince of Linchuan's establishment. At the start of Tiancheng (560) he was promoted to left assistant director of the masters of writing. For merit at Changcheng he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Chongde, with a fief of three hundred households. On the day he received his fief he entertained a clerical officer as guest and accepted his gifts; Emperor Wen was furious and dismissed him for it. Soon he was made adviser to the propagating-favor Prince of Shixing's establishment. He was appointed magistrate of Lin'an; for beating a county commoner to death he lost his fief. Note 12. Collation variant: (qian). He was made Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gate. [13] He was made General of Edge Glory and magistrate of Yanguan. In the first year of Guangda (567) he was made director of the secretariat and put in charge of the national history. He was again made director of the palace storehouses and concurrently supervised the Feathered Forest guard. He was promoted to grand master of palace affairs and concurrently colonel of footsoldiers. In the first year of Taijian (569) he died, aged sixty-two. An edict posthumously made him Grand Master for Splendid Happiness.
19
持善字書，每屬辭，好為奇字，文士亦以此譏之。 有集十卷。
Chi was skilled at calligraphy; whenever he wrote, he favored odd characters, and literary men mocked him for it. He left collected works in ten juan.
20
許亨字亨道，高陽新城人，晉徵士詢之六世孫也。 曾祖珪，歷給事中，委桂陽太守，高尚其志，居永興之究山，即詢之所隱也。 祖勇慧，齊太子家令、冗從僕射。 父懋，梁始平天門二郡守、太子中庶子、散騎常侍，以學藝聞，撰毛詩風雅比興義類十五卷，述行記四卷。
Xu Heng, styled Hendao, came from Xincheng in Gaoyang, sixth-generation descendant of the Jin recluse Xu Xun. His great-grandfather Gui had been an attendant and was appointed administrator of Guiyang, but honored his own resolve and lived on Mount Jiu in Yongxing—the very retreat of Xu Xun. His grandfather Yonghui had been Liang household tutor to the heir apparent and supernumerary vice director of the masters of writing for the heir apparent. His father Mao had been Liang administrator of Shiping and Tianmen, junior mentor to the heir apparent, and scattered-cavalry regular attendant; known for learning and the arts, he compiled Meaning and Categories of the Mao Odes' Winds, Elegies, and Hymns in fifteen juan and Records of Conduct in four juan.
21
亨少傳家業，孤介有節行。 博通群書，多識前代舊事，名輩皆推許之，甚為南陽劉之遴所重，每相稱述。 解褐梁安東王行參軍，〔一四〕兼太學博士，尋除平西府記室參軍。 太清初，為征西中記室，兼太常丞。
Heng in youth carried on the family learning; solitary and upright, he was known for integrity. He mastered all books and knew former ages well; men of standing commended him, and Liu Zhibian of Nanyang especially prized him and often spoke of him. He began as acting retainer in the Prince of An Dong's establishment [14], concurrently erudite of the imperial university; soon he became recorder of the pacifying-west establishment. At the start of Taiqing (547) he was central recorder of the pacifying-west army and concurrently vice director of the imperial ancestral temple.
22
侯景之亂，避地郢州，會梁邵陵王自東道至，引為諮議參軍。 王僧辯之襲郢州也，素聞其名，召為儀同從事中郎。 遷太尉從事中郎，與吳興沈炯對掌書記，府朝政務，一以委焉。 晉安王承制，授給事黃門侍郎，亨奉牋辭府，僧辯答曰：「省告，承有朝授，良為德舉。 卿操尚惇深，文藝該洽，學優而官，自致青紫。 況久羈駿足，將成頓轡，匡輔虛闇，期寄實深。 既欣遊處，用忘勞屈，而枳棘栖鵷，常以增歎。 夕郎之選，雖為清顯，位以才升，差自無愧。 且卿始云知命，方騁康衢，未有執戟之疲，便深夜行之慨，循復來翰，殊用憮然。 古人相思，千里命駕，素心不昧，寧限城闉，存顧之深，荒慚無已。」
In Hou Jing's rebellion he fled to Yingzhou; when the Liang Prince of Shaoling came by the eastern route, Heng was recruited as adviser. When Wang Sengbian attacked Yingzhou he had long heard of Heng and summoned him as acting retainer of the masters of writing with full powers. He was promoted to retainer of the masters of writing to the grand marshal and, with Shen Jiong of Wuxing, jointly managed documents; all court and government business was entrusted to them. When the Prince of Jin'an assumed the regency, Heng was appointed Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gate; Heng submitted a memorial declining the staff post. Sengbian replied, "Your report is received; I learn you have a court appointment—a fine choice of virtue. Your conduct is sincere and deep and your literary arts comprehensive; with learning fit for office you would reach the purple ranks on your own. Moreover you have long been constrained, a swift horse about to be reined in; to aid and correct in this vacant and dim hour, the hope placed in you is truly deep. Though I am glad you may go freely and forget hardship, a feng-bird nesting in thorn bushes always adds to my sighs. The post of Gentleman of the Evening, though clear and eminent, is won by talent—you need feel little shame. Moreover you first said you knew your fate and were racing along the broad road, had not yet the weariness of bearing halberds, yet already grieve at night travel—reading your letter again, I am deeply troubled. Ancients in longing would drive a thousand li; a pure heart is not dimmed—how could city walls limit it? The depth of your regard leaves me endlessly ashamed."
23
高祖受禪，授中散大夫，領羽林監。 遷太中大夫，領大著作，知梁史事。 初，僧辯之誅也，所司收僧辯及其子頠〔屍〕，〔一五〕於方山同坎埋瘞，至是無敢言者。 亨以故吏，抗表請葬之，乃與故義徐陵、張種、孔奐等，相率以家財營葬 （具） ，〔一六〕凡七柩皆改窆焉。
When the Founder received the Mandate, Heng was made grand master of the palace and supervised the Feathered Forest guard. He was promoted to grand master of palace affairs and concurrently grand historiographer, in charge of Liang history. When Sengbian was executed, the authorities seized him and his son Yan's corpse [15] and buried them together in one pit at Mount Fang; by then none dared speak of it. Heng, as a former clerk, submitted a memorial requesting burial; then he and his old comrades Xu Ling, Zhang Zhong, Kong Huan, and others jointly used family wealth to prepare the funeral Collation variant: (ju). [16] all seven coffins were reburied.
24
初撰齊書并志五十卷，遇亂失亡。 後撰梁史，成者五十八卷。 梁太清之後所製文筆六卷。
He had first compiled the Qi History with treatises in fifty juan, but it was lost in the chaos. Later he compiled the Liang History; the completed portion ran to fifty-eight juan. Literary writings composed after Liang's Taiqing period, six juan.
25
子善心，早知名，官至尚書度支侍郎。
His son Shansin was known from youth and rose to vice director of revenue in the masters of writing.
26
褚玠字溫理，河南陽翟人也。 曾祖炫，宋昇明初與謝朏、江效、劉俁入侍殿中，謂之四友。 官至侍中、吏部尚書，諡貞子。 祖澐，梁御史中丞。 父蒙，太子舍人。
Chu Yu, styled Wenli, came from Yangzhai in Henan. His great-grandfather Xuan, at the start of Song's Shengming era, attended in the palace hall with Xie Tiao, Jiang Xiao, and Liu Yi and were called the Four Friends. He rose to attendant-in-ordinary and director of the masters of writing, with posthumous title Viscount of Zhen. His grandfather Yun was Liang imperial censor. His father Meng was attendant to the heir apparent.
27
玠九歲而孤，為叔父驃騎從事中郎隨所養。 早有令譽，先達多以才器許之。 及長，美風儀，善占對，博學能屬文，詞義典實，不好豔靡。 起家王府法曹，歷轉外兵記室。 天嘉中，兼通直散騎常侍，聘齊，還為桂陽王友。 遷太子庶子、中書侍郎。
Yu was orphaned at nine and was raised by his uncle, acting retainer of the masters of writing to the flying-cavalry general. From youth he had a fine reputation; elders mostly commended his talent and capacity. As he matured he had fine bearing, was skilled at repartee, broadly learned and able to compose; his style was classical and solid, without florid excess. He began as legal officer of a princely establishment and through transfers became outer-army recorder. In the Tiancheng era he was concurrently regular attendant of unimpeded access, was envoy to Qi, and on return became friend to the Prince of Guiyang. He was promoted to junior mentor to the heir apparent and master of writing attendant.
28
太建中，山陰縣多豪猾，前後令皆以贓汙免，高宗患之，謂中書舍人蔡景歷曰：「稽陰大邑，久無良宰，卿文士之內，試思其人。」 景歷進曰：「褚玠廉儉有幹用，未審堪其選不？」 高宗曰：「甚善，卿言與朕意同。」 乃除戎昭將軍、山陰令。 縣民張次的、王休達等與諸猾吏賄賂通姦，全丁大戶，類多隱沒。 玠乃鎖次的等，具狀啟臺，高宗手敕慰勞，并遣使助玠搜括，所出軍民八百餘戶。
In the Taijian era Shanyin county had many powerful ruffians and successive magistrates were dismissed for bribery; Emperor Gaozong was troubled and told master of writing attendant Cai Jingli, "Shanyin is a great county long without a good magistrate; among literary men, think of someone." Jingli replied, "Chu Yu is frugal and capable—would he be unknown whether he fits the post?" Emperor Gaozong said, "Excellent—your words match my intent." Yu was then made General of Military Glory and magistrate of Shanyin. County commoners Zhang Cide and Wang Xiuda and others bribed crafty clerks; great households for the most part concealed their registers. Yu then imprisoned Cide and the rest and submitted a full report to the capital; Emperor Gaozong personally wrote to console and reward him and sent envoys to help Yu search the registers, exposing more than eight hundred military and civilian households.
29
時舍人曹義達為高宗所寵，縣民陳信家富於財，諂事義達，信父顯文恃勢橫暴。 玠乃遣使執顯文，鞭之一百，於是吏民股慄，莫敢犯者。 信後因義達譖玠，竟坐免官。 玠在任歲餘，守祿俸而已，去官之日，不堪自致，因留縣境，種蔬菜以自給。 或嗤玠以非百里之才，玠答曰：「吾委輸課最，不後列城，除殘去暴，姦吏局蹐。 若謂其不能自潤脂膏，則如來命。 以為不達從政，吾未服也。」 時人以為信然。 皇太子知玠無還裝，手書賜粟米二百斛，於是還都。 太子愛玠文辭，令入直殿省。 十年，除電威將軍、仁威淮南王長史，頃之，以本官掌東宮管記。 十二年，遷御史中丞，卒于官，時年五十二。
Attendant Cao Yida was then favored by Emperor Gaozong; county commoner Chen Xin was wealthy and fawned on Yida; Xin's father Xianwen relied on power and acted violently. Yu then sent officers to seize Xianwen and gave him a hundred strokes of the whip; thereafter clerks and people trembled and none dared offend. Later Xin slandered Yu through Yida, and Yu was dismissed. Yu held office for more than a year and kept only his salary; when he left he could not afford the journey and stayed within the county, planting vegetables to live. Some mocked Yu as unfit for a county magistrate; Yu replied, "My tax deliveries and rankings are not behind other cities; in removing violence and ridding cruelty, crafty clerks cowered. If you mean I could not enrich myself with bribes, that is as fate ordained. To say I did not understand governing—I am not convinced. Men of the time found this credible. The heir apparent knew Yu had no travel funds and personally wrote to grant him two hundred piculs of grain and millet; Yu then returned to the capital. The heir apparent admired Yu's writing and had him attend in the hall directorate. In year 10 he was made General of Lightning Might and long recorder to the Prince of Huainan of Renwei; soon he held the same rank and concurrently managed eastern-palace records. In year 12 he was made imperial censor and died in office, aged fifty-two.
30
玠剛毅有膽決，兼善騎射。 嘗從司空侯安都於徐州出獵，遇有猛獸，〔一七〕玠引弓射之，再發皆中口入腹，俄而獸斃。 及為御史中丞，甚有直繩之稱。 自梁末喪亂，朝章廢弛，司憲因循，守而勿革，玠方欲改張，大為條例，綱維略舉，而編次未訖，故不列于後焉。 及卒，太子親製誌銘，以表惟舊。 至德二年，追贈祕書監。 所製章奏雜文二百餘篇，皆切事理，由是見重於時。
Yu was resolute and bold in decision; he was also skilled at mounted archery. Once he followed Minister of Works Hou Andu hunting at Xuzhou; they met a fierce beast [17]. Yu drew his bow and shot twice, both entering the mouth into the belly, and the beast soon fell dead. As imperial censor he won a great reputation for upholding the law. From Liang's final turmoil court regulations had collapsed; the judicial office clung to precedent without reform. Yu was about to overhaul them with broad new regulations, but the compilation was unfinished, and therefore they are not listed below. When he died the heir apparent personally composed his epitaph in remembrance of old ties. In Zhide year 2 (584) he was posthumously made director of the secretariat. More than two hundred memorials and essays he wrote all addressed the facts of affairs, and on that account he was valued in his time.
31
子亮，有才學，官至尚書殿中侍郎。
His son Liang had talent and learning and rose to hall directorate attendant in the masters of writing.
32
岑之敬
Qin Zhijing
33
岑之敬字思禮，南陽棘陽人也。 父善紆，梁世以經學聞，官至吳寧令、司義郎。
Qin Zhijing, styled Silin, came from Jiyang in Nanyang. His father Shanyu was known in the Liang era for classical learning and rose to magistrate of Wuning and director of the office of righteousness.
34
之敬年五歲，讀孝經，每燒香正坐，親戚咸加歎異。 年十六，策春秋左氏制旨、孝經義，擢為高第。 御史奏曰：「皇朝多士，例止明經，若顏、閔之流，乃應高第。」 梁武帝省其策曰：「何妨我復有顏、閔邪？」 因召入面試，令之敬昇講座，敕中書舍人朱异執孝經，唱士章，武帝親自論難。 之敬剖釋縱橫，應對如響，左右莫不嗟服。 乃除童子奉車郎，賞賜優厚。 十八，預重雲殿法會，時武帝親行香，熟視之敬曰：「未幾見兮，突而弁兮！」 即日除太學限內博士。 尋為壽光學士、司義郎，又除武陵王安西府刑獄參軍事。 太清元年，表請試吏，除南沙令。
Zhijing at five read the Classic of Filial Piety; each time he burned incense and sat upright, and kin all marveled. At sixteen he was examined on the Zuo Tradition exegesis and the meaning of the Classic of Filial Piety and placed in the top grade. The imperial censor memorialized, "The court has many scholars who as a rule only pass the classics examination; men like Yan and Min ought to rank at the top." Emperor Wu of Liang read his answers and said, "What harm if I too have a Yan and Min?" He then summoned him for a face-to-face test, had Zhijing ascend the lecture seat, ordered master of writing attendant Zhu Yi to hold the Classic of Filial Piety and intone the chapter for scholars, and debated him himself. Zhijing analyzed freely in every direction and answered like an echo; none present failed to admire him. He was then made Gentleman of the Palace Carriage for Youth and richly rewarded. At eighteen he attended the dharma assembly at Chongyun Hall; Emperor Wu personally performed the incense rite, gazed long at Zhijing, and said, "It seems but yesterday I saw you, and suddenly you wear the cap!" That same day he was made erudite within the imperial university quota. Shortly he was made Shouguang academician and director of righteousness, then criminal-prison adviser in the prince of Wuling's western headquarters. In the first year of Taiqing he memorialized to enter trial office and was made magistrate of Nansha.
35
侯景之亂，之敬率領所部，赴援京師。 至郡境，聞臺城陷，乃與眾辭訣，歸鄉里。 承聖二年，除晉安王宣惠府中記室參軍。 是時蕭勃據嶺表，敕之敬宣旨慰喻，會江陵陷，仍留廣州。 太建初，還朝，授東宮義省學士，太子素聞其名，尤降賞接。 累遷鄱陽王中衛府記室、鎮北府中錄事參軍、南臺治書侍御史、征南府諮議參軍。
In Hou Jing's rebellion Zhijing led his troops to relieve the capital. At the commandery border he heard the terrace city had fallen; he bade his men farewell and returned home. In Chengsheng year 2 he was recording secretary in the pacification-hui prince of Jin'an's household. Xiao Bo then held Lingbiao; Zhijing was ordered to proclaim the edict and reassure him. When Jiangling fell he stayed at Guangzhou. Early in Taijian he returned to court as an eastern-palace righteousness-bureau scholar; the crown prince had long known his name and treated him with special favor. He rose through recording secretary in the prince of Poyang's central guard, recorder within limits in the pacify-north headquarters, southern terrace investigating secretary, and staff adviser in the campaign-south headquarters.
36
之敬始以經業進，而博涉文史，雅有詞筆，不為醇儒。 性謙謹，未嘗以才學矜物，接引後進，恂恂如也。 每忌日營齋，必躬自洒掃，涕泣終日，士君子以篤行稱之。 十一年卒，時年六十一。 太子嗟惜，賻贈甚厚。 有集十卷行於世。
Zhijing had entered through classical studies but ranged widely in literature and history, wrote well, and was no orthodox Confucian. Modest and cautious by nature, he never flaunted his learning; he welcomed juniors and was always earnest and kindly. On each parent's anniversary he kept a vegetarian observance, swept the shrine himself, and wept all day; gentlemen praised his earnest conduct. He died in year 11, aged sixty-one. The crown prince mourned him and sent lavish funeral gifts. A collection of ten juan by him circulated.
37
子德潤，有父風，官至中軍吳興王記室。
His son Dekun had his father's manner and became recording secretary to the Wu-xing prince of the central army.
38
陸琰字溫玉，吏部尚書瓊之從父弟也。 父令公，梁中軍宣城王記室參軍。
Lu Yan, styled Wenyu, was a younger cousin of Minister of Personnel Qiong. His father Linggong was Liang recording secretary in the prince of Xuancheng's central army headquarters.
39
琰幼孤、好學，有志操。 州舉秀才。 解褐宣惠始興王行參軍，累遷法曹外兵參軍，直嘉德殿學士。 世祖聽覽餘暇，頗留心史籍，以琰博學，善占誦，引置左右。 嘗使製刀銘，琰援筆即成，無所點竄，世祖嗟賞久之，賜衣一襲。 俄兼通直散騎常侍，副琅邪王厚聘齊，及至鄴下而厚病卒，琰自為使主。 時年二十餘，風神韶亮，占對閑敏，齊士大夫甚傾心焉。 還為雲麾新安王主簿，遷安成王長史，〔一八〕寧遠府記室參軍。 太建初，為武陵王明威府功曹史，兼東宮管記。 丁母憂去官。 五年卒，時年三十四。 太子甚傷悼之，手令舉哀，加其賻贈，又自製誌銘。 至德二年，追贈司農卿。
Orphaned young, Yan loved learning and had firm resolve. The province nominated him as an outstanding candidate. On entering office he was acting secretary to the pacification-hui prince of Shixing, then outer-army legal adviser and a straight academician of Jiadé Hall. In spare moments from audiences Emperor Wen attended to historical records; finding Yan erudite and skilled at recitation, he kept him close. Once ordered to compose a knife inscription, Yan wrote it at a stroke without emendation. Emperor Wen admired him at length and granted a suit of robes. Shortly he was also regular attendant through direct communication of the scattered cavalry, deputy to the prince of Langya on a mission to Qi; at Ye Hou fell ill and died, and Yan himself headed the mission. He was then just over twenty, bright in spirit and bearing, quick and poised in reply; Qi officials greatly favored him. On return he was registrar to the cloud-banner prince of Xin'an, then chief steward to the prince of Ancheng, [18] and recorder of the Ningyuan headquarters. Early in Taijian he was merit-clerk in the bright-prestige headquarters of the prince of Wuling and concurrently eastern-palace recorder. He left office on his mother's mourning. He died in year 5, aged thirty-four. The crown prince mourned him deeply, ordered mourning by personal edict, increased funeral gifts, and wrote the epitaph himself. In Zhide year 2 he was posthumously made director of the court for imperial granaries.
40
琰寡嗜慾，鮮矜競，遊心經籍，晏如也。 其所製文筆多不存本，後主求其遺文，撰成二卷。 有弟瑜。
Yan had few desires and rarely strove; his mind dwelt in the classics, at ease. Most of his writings did not survive; Hou Zhu sought his remnants and compiled two juan. He had a younger brother Yu.
41
弟瑜
Younger brother Yu
42
瑜字幹玉。 少篤學，美詞藻。 州舉秀才。 解褐驃騎安成王行參軍，轉軍師晉安王外兵參軍、東宮學士。 兄琰時為管記，並以才學娛侍左右，時人比之二應。 太建二年，太子釋奠于太學，宮臣並賦詩，命瑜為序，文甚贍麗。 遷尚書祠部郎中，丁母憂去職。 服闋，為桂陽王明威將軍功曹史，兼東宮管記。 累遷永陽王文學、太子洗馬、中舍人。
Yu, styled Ganyu. From youth he studied devotedly and wrote finely. The province nominated him as an outstanding candidate. On entering office he was acting secretary to the swift-cavalry prince of Ancheng, then staff adviser to the prince of Jin'an and an eastern-palace academician. When his elder brother Yan was recorder, both entertained the heir with their learning; contemporaries compared them to the two Yings. In Taijian year 2 the crown prince offered at the imperial academy; palace officials all wrote poems, and Yu was ordered to compose the preface in rich, elegant prose. He was made bureau director of sacrifices in the masters of writing, then left office on his mother's mourning. When mourning ended he was merit-clerk in the bright-prestige headquarters of the prince of Guiyang and concurrently eastern-palace recorder. He rose through literary scholar to the prince of Yongyang, palace rhetorician, and palace attendant.
43
瑜幼長讀書，晝夜不廢，聰敏彊記，一覽無復遺失。 嘗受莊、老於汝南周弘正，學成實論於僧滔法師，並通大旨。 時皇太子好學，欲博覽群書，以子集繁多，命瑜鈔撰，未就而卒，時年四十四。 太子為之流涕，手令舉哀，官給喪事，并親製祭文，遣使者弔祭。 〔一九〕仍與詹事江總書曰：「管記陸瑜，奄然殂化，悲傷悼惜，此情何已。 吾生平愛好，卿等所悉，自以學涉儒雅，不逮古人，欽賢慕士，是情尤篤。 梁室亂離，天下糜沸，書史殘缺，禮樂崩淪，晚生後學，匪無牆面，卓爾出群，斯人而已。 吾識覽雖局，未曾以言議假人，至於片善小才，特用嗟賞。 況復洪識奇士，此故忘言之地。 論其博綜子史，諳究儒墨，經耳無遺，觸目成誦，一褒一貶，一激一揚，語玄析理，披文摘句，未嘗不聞者心伏，聽者解頤，會意相得，自以為布衣之賞。 吾監撫之暇，事隙之辰，頗用譚笑娛情，琴樽閒作，雅篇豔什，迭互鋒起。 每清風朗月，美景良辰，對群山之參差，望巨波之滉瀁，或翫新花，時觀落葉，既聽春鳥，又聆秋鴈，未嘗不促膝舉觴，連情發藻，且代琢磨，間以嘲謔，俱怡耳目，並留情致。 自謂百年為速，朝露可傷，豈謂玉折蘭摧，遽從短運，為悲為恨，當復何言。 遺跡餘文，觸目增泫，絕絃投筆，恆有酸恨。 〔二０〕以卿同志，聊復敘懷，涕之無從，言不寫意。」 其見重如此。 至德二年，追贈光祿卿。 有集十卷。 瑜有從父兄玠，從父弟琛。
Yu had read constantly from childhood, day and night; clever and with a strong memory, one reading left nothing lost. He studied Zhuangzi and Laozi under Zhou Hongzheng of Runan and substantive discourse under the dharma master Monk Tao, mastering both. The heir apparent then loved learning and wished to survey all books; the zi and ji categories being vast, he ordered Yu to excerpt them, but Yu died before finishing, aged forty-four. The crown prince wept for him, ordered mourning by personal edict, supplied the funeral from government funds, composed a sacrificial text, and sent an envoy to mourn. [19] He also wrote to chamberlain Jiang Zong: "Recorder Lu Yu has suddenly died; grief and mourning—when can it end? You know my lifelong pursuits; I find my Ru learning falls short of the ancients, yet in cherishing the worthy and admiring scholars my feeling runs especially deep. The Liang house was torn apart and the realm boiled; books and histories were broken, rites and music ruined; later students are not without learning by rote, but to stand out from the crowd—only this man. My knowledge is narrow and I have never lent my voice in debate, yet toward the smallest talent I always sighed in admiration. How much more for vast learning and rare talent—here words fail. In mastering zi and shi, in Ru and Mo, nothing heard was lost and nothing seen went unrecited; praise and blame, stir and lift, discourse on mystery and analysis of principle, splitting texts and plucking lines—hearers submitted and listeners smiled; when minds met, it was the reward of friendship among plain cloth. In the leisure of oversight, in gaps between affairs, we used wit to soothe the mood, zithers and cups at ease, elegant verses and lush stanzas crossing like blades. Under clear wind and bright moon, fine scenes and apt seasons, facing jagged mountains and vast waves, playing with fresh flowers or watching fallen leaves, hearing spring birds or autumn geese—we always bent knee and raised cup, joined feeling and sent forth lines, polishing in turn with banter between, pleasing ear and eye and holding feeling alike. I thought a hundred years swift and morning dew a cause for sorrow—who expected jade to break and orchid to snap, suddenly cut off? For grief and regret, what more can be said? Traces and surviving writings move me to tears at every sight; breaking the lute-string and casting aside the brush, I constantly feel sour regret. [20] As you share this intent I briefly lay out my feelings; tears have no outlet and words cannot hold the meaning." People of the time esteemed him thus. In Zhide year 2 he was posthumously made director of the palace for imperial luminaries. He left a collection of ten juan. Yu had an elder cousin's son Jie and a younger cousin's son Chen.
44
玠字潤玉，梁大匠卿晏〔子〕之子。 〔二一〕弘雅有識度，好學，能屬文。 舉秀才，對策高第。 吏部尚書袁樞薦之於世祖，超授衡陽王文學，直天保殿學士。 太建初，遷長沙王友，領記室。 後主在東宮，聞甚名，徵為管記。 仍除中舍人，管記如故，甚見親待。 尋以疾失明，將還鄉里，太子解衣贈玠，為之流涕。 八年卒，時年三十七。 有令舉哀，并加賵贈。 至德二年，追贈少府卿。 有集十卷。
Jie, styled Runyu, was son of Liang director of the grand master of works Yanzi [21]. [21] Refined and discerning, fond of learning, able to write prose. Nominated as outstanding candidate, he ranked high in the policy essay. Minister of Personnel Yuan Shu recommended him to Emperor Wen; he was specially made literary scholar to the prince of Hengyang and straight academician of Tianbao Hall. Early in Taijian he became friend to the prince of Changsha and concurrently recorder. When Hou Zhu was in the eastern palace he heard of Jie and summoned him as recorder. He was then made palace attendant, still recorder, and greatly favored. Soon illness blinded him; as he was to return home the crown prince gave him his own garment and wept. He died in year 8, aged thirty-seven. An edict ordered mourning and increased funeral gifts. In Zhide year 2 he was posthumously made director of the palace for the imperial treasury. He left a collection of ten juan.
45
琛字潔玉，宣毅臨川王長史丘公之子。 少警俊，事後母以孝聞。 世祖為會稽太守，琛年十八，上善政頌，甚有詞采，由此知名，舉秀才。 起家為衡陽王主簿，兼東宮管記。 歷豫章王文學，領記室，司徒主簿，直宣明殿學士。 尋遷尚書三公侍郎，兼通直散騎常侍，聘齊，還為司徒左西掾。 又掌東宮管記，太子愛琛才辯，深禮遇之。 後主嗣位，遷給事黃門侍郎、中書舍人，參掌機密。 琛性頗疏，坐漏洩禁中語，詔賜死，時年四十二。
Chen, styled Jieyu, was son of chief steward Qiu in the pacification-steadfast prince of Linchuan's household. Alert and talented from youth, he was famed for serving his stepmother filially. When Emperor Wen was Kuaiji administrator, Chen at eighteen submitted a eulogy on good government of fine literary color, won fame, and was nominated as outstanding candidate. On first taking office he was registrar to the prince of Hengyang and concurrently eastern-palace recorder. He served as literary scholar to the prince of Yuzhang with concurrent recorder, minister of state registrar, and straight academician of Xuanming Hall. Shortly he was vice director of the three excellencies in the masters of writing and regular attendant through direct communication on a mission to Qi; on return he was left western aide of the minister of state. He again held the eastern-palace recorder; the crown prince loved his eloquence and treated him with deep courtesy. When Hou Zhu succeeded he was made supervisor of attendants of the yellow gate and secretariat drafter within the palace, sharing confidential affairs. Careless by nature, he was convicted of leaking palace secrets and was ordered to die, aged forty-two.
46
何之元
He Zhiyuan
47
何之元，廬江灊人也。 祖僧達，齊南臺治書侍御史。 父法勝，以行業聞。
He Zhiyuan came from Qian in Lujiang. His grandfather Sengda was Qi investigating secretary of the southern terrace. His father Fasheng was famed for moral conduct.
48
之元幼好學，有才思，居喪過禮，為梁司空袁昂所重。 天監末，昂表薦之，因得召見。 解褐梁太尉臨川王揚州議曹從事史，尋轉主簿。 及昂為丹陽尹，辟為丹陽五官掾，總戶曹事。 尋除信義令。 之元宗人敬容者，勢位隆重，頻相顧訪，之元終不造焉。 或問其故，之元曰：「昔楚人得寵於觀起，有馬者皆亡。 夫德薄任隆，必近覆敗，吾恐不獲其利而招其禍。」 識者以是稱之。
Zhiyuan loved learning from youth and had literary gifts; his mourning observance exceeded the rites, and Liang Minister of Works Yuan Ang valued him. At the end of Tianjian Ang memorialized recommending him, and he was summoned to audience. On entering office he was aide in the discussion bureau of Liang grand marshal the prince of Linchuan's Yangzhou separate office, then chief secretary. When Ang became Danyang administrator he summoned Zhiyuan as aide of the five Danyang offices, overseeing the household-registration bureau. Shortly he was made magistrate of Xinyi. His clansman Jingrong held weighty power and rank and called on him often, but Zhiyuan never returned the visits. Asked why, Zhiyuan said, "Long ago a Chu man won favor through Guan Qi, and everyone who had horses perished. When virtue is thin and office heavy, downfall is near; I fear I would gain no benefit but invite disaster." The discerning praised him for it.
49
會安西武陵王為益州刺史，以之元為安西刑獄參軍。 侯景之亂，武陵王以太尉承制，授南梁州 （長） 〔刺〕史、〔二二〕北巴西太守。 武陵王自成都舉兵東下，之元與蜀中民庶抗表請無行，王以為沮眾，囚之元于艦中。 及武陵兵敗，之元從邵陵太守劉恭之郡。 〔二三〕俄而江陵陷，劉恭卒，王琳召為記室參軍。 梁敬帝冊琳為司空，之元除司空府諮議參軍，領記室。
When the anxi prince of Wuling became Yizhou inspector, Zhiyuan was criminal-prison adviser in the anxi headquarters. In Hou Jing's rebellion the prince of Wuling, as grand marshal exercising regency, appointed him to Southern Liang province (long) inspector [22] and grand administrator of Northern Baxi. The prince of Wuling marched east from Chengdu. Zhiyuan and the people of Shu jointly memorialized that he should not go. The prince took this as discouraging the troops and imprisoned Zhiyuan aboard his vessel. When the Wuling army was defeated, Zhiyuan followed Shaoling prefect Liu Gong to his commandery. [23] Soon Jiangling fell. Liu Gong died, and Wang Lin summoned him as recorder of the staff. Liang's Emperor Jing made Lin minister of works. Zhiyuan was made deliberator in the works ministry and concurrently recorder.
50
記事之史，其流不一，編年之作，〔二四〕無若春秋，則魯史之書，非帝皇之籍也。 案三皇之簡為三墳，五帝之策為五典，此典義所由生也。 至乃尚書述唐帝為堯典，虞帝為舜典，斯又經文明據。 是以典之為義久矣哉。 若夫馬史、班漢，述帝稱紀，自茲厥後，因相祖習。 及陳壽所撰，名之曰志，總其三國，分路揚鑣。 唯何法盛晉書變帝紀為帝典，既云師古，在理為優。 故今之所作，稱為梁典。
Histories that record events have more than one tradition; of annalistic works—[24] none match the Spring and Autumn—and the history of Lu is not the register of emperors and kings. The documents of the Three August Ones are the Three Mounds; the policies of the Five Thearchs are the Five Canons—whence the meaning of canon arose. The Documents describes the Tang emperor as the Canon of Yao and the Yu emperor as the Canon of Shun—again the textual basis of the classics. Thus the meaning of canon is ancient indeed. Sima Qian's history and Ban Gu's Han narrate emperors under the title annals; since then successors have followed one another in habit. Chen Shou named his work Records; it surveys the Three Kingdoms, each going its separate way. Only He Fasheng's Jin History changed imperial annals into imperial canons; said to follow antiquity, in principle it is superior. Therefore what is composed now is called the Liang Canon.
51
梁有天下，自中大同以前，區宇寧晏，太清以後，寇盜交侵，首尾而言，未為盡美，故開此一書，分為六意。 以高祖創基，因乎齊末，尋宗討本，起自永元，今以前如干卷為追述。 高祖生自布衣，長於弊俗，知風教之臧否，識民黎之情偽。 爰逮君臨，弘斯政術，四紀之內，寔云殷阜。 今以如干卷為太平。 世不常夷，時無恆治，非自我後，仍屬橫流，今以如干卷為敘亂。 洎高祖晏駕之年，太宗幽辱之歲，謳歌獄訟，向西陝不向東都。 不庭之民，流逸之士，征伐禮樂，歸世祖不歸太宗。 撥亂反正，厥庸斯在，治定功成，其勳有屬。 今以如干卷為世祖。 至於四海困窮，五德升替，則敬皇紹立，仍以禪陳，今以如干卷為敬帝。 驃騎王琳，崇立後嗣，雖不達天命，然是其忠節，今以如干卷為後嗣主。 至在太宗，雖加美謚，而大寶之號，世所不遵，蓋以拘於賊景故也。 承聖紀歷，自接太清，神筆詔書，非宜輒改，詳之後論，蓋有理焉。
Liang held the realm: before Zhongdatong the domain was tranquil; after Taqing bandits and raiders pressed in turn—taken from first to last, it was not wholly perfect. Hence this book is opened and divided into six sections. Because Liang Gaozu laid the foundation, following the end of Qi, tracing clan and root from the Yongyuan era—the preceding such-and-such scrolls are retrospective narrative. Liang Gaozu was born a commoner and grew up amid corrupt custom; he knew whether customs were sound or unsound and understood the people's truth and falsehood. When he came to rule he enlarged this policy; within four reign-periods the realm was truly prosperous. Now such-and-such scrolls are titled Great Peace. The age is not always peaceful and times not always well governed; not only after me did disorder still belong—now such-and-such scrolls are titled Narrative of Disorder. Down to the year Liang Gaozu died and Liang Taizong suffered disgrace, songs of praise and prison suits turned west to Shanxi, not east to the eastern capital. Those who would not attend court and wandering scholars—in campaigns, rites, and music—turned to Emperor Wen, not Liang Taizong. To dispel disorder and return to the correct, the merit lies here; when order was settled and the work completed, the achievement had its owner. Now such-and-such scrolls are titled Emperor Wen. When the four seas were exhausted and the Five Virtues rose and fell, Emperor Jing succeeded and still abdicated to Chen—now such-and-such scrolls are titled Emperor Jing. General of agile cavalry Wang Lin set up the successor lord; though he did not accord with Heaven's mandate, it was his loyalty and integrity—now such-and-such scrolls are titled the Successor Lord. As for Liang Taizong, though a fine posthumous title was added, the title Great Treasure was not followed in the world—probably because he was constrained by the rebel Hou Jing. The Chengsheng chronology, from connecting with Taqing onward, and divine-brush edicts and documents ought not be rashly altered; examined in the discussion at the end, there is reason in this.
52
夫事有始終，人有業行，本末之閒，頗宜詮敘。 案臧榮緒稱史無裁斷，猶起居注耳，由此而言，寔資詳悉。
Affairs have beginning and end; people have occupation and conduct—between root and branch it is quite fitting to narrate. Zang Rongxu said histories without editorial judgment are like daily records—by this reasoning, full detail is truly required.
53
又編年而舉其歲次者，蓋取分明而易尋也。 若夫獫狁孔熾，鯁我中原，始自一君，終為二主，事有相涉，言成混漫。 今以未分之前為北魏，既分之後高氏所輔為東魏，宇文所挾為西魏，所以相分別也。 重以蓋彰殊體，繁省異文，其閒損益，頗有凡例。
Annalistic works that give the year sequence do so for clarity and easy searching. When the Xianyun were fiercely rampant and choked the central plains—beginning with one ruler, ending with two lords—affairs overlap and words become confused. What precedes the division is called Northern Wei; after the division what the Gao supported is Eastern Wei and what the Yuwen held is Western Wei—thus they are distinguished. Because covering and revealing differ in form and complexity and simplicity differ in text, the reductions and additions between them have general examples.
54
禎明三年，京城陷，乃移居常州之晉陵縣。 隋開皇十三年，卒于家。
In Zhenming year 3 the capital fell; he then moved his residence to Jinling county in Changzhou. In Kaichuang year 13 of Sui he died at home.
55
徐伯陽
Xu Boyang
56
徐伯陽字隱忍，東海人也。 祖度之，齊南徐州議曹從事史。 父僧權，梁東宮通事舍人，領祕書，以善書知名。
Xu Boyang, styled Yinren, was from Donghai. His grandfather Duzhi was a Liang deliberator-attendant in the Southern Xuzhou staff office. His father Sengquan was a Liang eastern-palace communications attendant, concurrently in charge of the secretariat, and was famed for calligraphy.
57
伯陽敏而好學，善色養，進止有節。 年十五，以文筆稱。 學春秋左氏。 家有史書，所讀者近三千餘卷。 試策高第，尚書板補梁河東王國右常侍、東宮學士、臨川嗣王府墨曹參軍。 大同中，出為候官令，甚得民和。 侯景之亂，伯陽浮海南至廣州，依於蕭勃。 勃平還朝，仍將家屬之吳郡。
Boyang was keen and loved learning, skilled in pleasing his parents by countenance, and measured in advance and retreat. At fifteen he was famed for literary composition. He studied the Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn. His household had historical books; what he read came to more than three thousand scrolls. In the examination he placed at the top; the masters of writing by board appointed him right ordinary attendant in the Liang prince of Hedong's kingdom, eastern-palace scholar, and ink-bureau aide in the prince of Linchuan's successor household. In the Datong era he went out as magistrate of Houguan and greatly won the people's harmony. In Hou Jing's rebellion Boyang crossed the sea south to Guangzhou and relied on Xiao Bo. When Bo was pacified he returned to court and still took his family to Wu commandery.
58
天嘉二年，詔侍晉安王讀。 尋除司空侯安都府記室參軍事，安都素聞其名，見之，降席為禮。 甘露降樂遊苑，詔賜安都，令伯陽為謝表，世祖覽而奇之。 太建初，中記室李爽、記室張正見、左民郎賀徹、學士阮卓、黃門郎蕭詮、三公郎王由禮、處士馬樞、記室祖孫登、比部賀循、長史劉刪等為文會之友，後有蔡凝、劉助、陳暄、孔範亦預焉，皆一時之士也。 遊宴賦詩，勒成卷軸，伯陽為其集序，盛傳於世。
In Tianchen year 2 an edict ordered him to attend on the prince of Jin'an in reading. Soon he was made recorder of the staff in minister of works Hou Andu's headquarters. Andu had long heard his name and, on meeting him, stepped down from his seat in courtesy. Sweet dew fell in the Leyou Park; an edict granted it to Andu and ordered Boyang to draft the letter of thanks. Emperor Wen read it and was struck with wonder. Early in Taijian, central recorder Li Shuang, recorder Zhang Zhengjian, left people gentleman He Che, scholar Ruan Zhuo, yellow gate gentleman Xiao Quan, three excellencies gentleman Wang Youli, recluse Ma Shu, recorder Zu Sundeng, comparison bureau He Xun, chief clerk Liu Shan, and others were friends in a literary gathering; later Cai Ning, Liu Zhu, Chen Xuan, and Kong Fan also joined—all men of the age. At roaming feasts they composed fu and poetry and bound them into scrolls; Boyang wrote the preface for the collection, which spread widely in the world.
59
及新安王為南徐州刺史，除鎮北新安王府中記室參軍，兼南徐州別駕，帶東海郡丞。 鄱陽王為江州刺史，伯陽嘗奉使造焉，王率府僚與伯陽登匡嶺，置宴，酒酣，命筆賦劇韻二十，伯陽與祖孫登前成，王賜以奴婢雜物。 及新安王還京，除臨海嗣王府限外諮議參軍。 十一年春，皇太子幸太學，詔新安王於辟雍發論語題，仍命伯陽為辟雍頌，甚見佳賞。 〔二五〕除鎮右新安王府諮議參軍事。 十三年，聞姊喪，發疾而卒，時年六十六。
When the prince of Xin'an was inspector of South Xuzhou, he was made central recorder in the pacify-the-north prince of Xin'an's household and concurrently separate-office aide of South Xuzhou, with concurrent acting administrator of Donghai commandery. When the prince of Poyang was inspector of Jiangzhou, Boyang once went on mission to visit him. The prince led his staff and Boyang up Kuang Ridge and set a banquet. When the wine was deep he ordered brush and fu on twenty difficult rhymes; Boyang and Zu Sundeng finished first, and the prince granted slaves and goods. When the prince of Xin'an returned to the capital, he was made supernumerary deliberator in the prince of Linhai's successor household. In spring of year 11 the heir apparent visited the imperial university; an edict ordered the prince of Xin'an at the Piyong to set a Lunyu topic, and Boyang was further ordered to compose the Piyong eulogy—he received excellent reward. [25] He was made deliberator of the staff in the pacify-the-right prince of Xin'an's household. In year 13 he heard of his elder sister's death, took ill, and died at sixty-six.
60
張正見
Zhang Zhengjian
61
張正見字見賾，清河東武城人也。 祖蓋之，魏散騎常侍、勃海長樂二郡太守。 父脩禮，魏散騎侍郎，歸梁，仍拜本職，遷懷方太守。
Zhang Zhengjian, styled Jianze, was from Dongwucheng in Qinghe. His grandfather Gaizhi was a Wei regular attendant of the scattered cavalry and governor of Bohai and Changle commanderies. His father Xiuli was a Wei regular attendant of the scattered cavalry; he returned to Liang and still received his former post, then was transferred to governor of Huaifang.
62
正見幼好學，有清才。 梁簡文在東宮，正見年十三，獻頌，簡文深贊賞之。 簡文雅尚學業，每自昇座說經，正見嘗預講筵，請決疑義，吐納和順，進退詳雅，四座咸屬目焉。 太清初，射策高第，除邵陵王國左常侍。
Zhengjian from youth loved learning and had pure talent. When Liang's Emperor Jianwen was in the eastern palace, Zhengjian at thirteen presented a eulogy; Jianwen deeply praised it. Jianwen by nature esteemed scholarship; whenever he ascended the seat to explain the classics, Zhengjian often attended the lecture hall, requested resolution of doubtful points, spoke and received in harmony, and advanced and retreated with detailed elegance—all four sides fixed their eyes on him. Early in Taqing he placed at the top in the target-shooting examination and was made left ordinary attendant in the prince of Shaoling's Liang kingdom.
63
梁元帝立，拜通直散騎侍郎，遷彭澤令。 屬梁季喪亂，避地於匡俗山，時焦僧度擁眾自保，遣使請交，正見懼之，遜辭延納，然以禮法自持，僧度亦雅相敬憚。
When Liang's Emperor Yuan took the throne, he was made direct regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, then transferred to magistrate of Pengze. As Liang's end brought turmoil, he took refuge on Kuangsu Mountain. Jiao Sengdu then held the masses and kept himself secure and sent envoys to request alliance. Zhengjian feared this, declined with humble words yet extended acceptance, but still held himself by ritual and law; Sengdu also by refinement respected and feared him.
64
高祖受禪，詔正見還都，除鎮東鄱陽王府墨曹行參軍，兼衡陽王府長史。 歷宜都王限外記室、撰史著士，帶尋陽郡丞。 累遷尚書度支郎、通直散騎侍郎，著士如故。 太建中卒，時年四十九。 有集十四卷，其五言詩尤善，大行於世。
When the Founder received the abdication, an edict summoned Zhengjian back to the capital; he was made acting aide in the ink bureau of the pacify-the-east prince of Poyang's household and concurrently chief clerk in the prince of Hengyang's household. He served in succession as supernumerary recorder in the prince of Yidu's household and compiler-historian gentleman, with concurrent acting administrator of Xunyang commandery. By cumulative promotion he became gentleman of the revenue bureau in the masters of writing and direct regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, compiler-historian as before. He died in the Taijian era at forty-nine. He had a collection in fourteen scrolls; his five-character poetry was especially fine and circulated widely in the world.
65
蔡凝字子居，濟陽考城人也。 祖撙，梁吏部尚書、金紫光祿大夫。 父彥高，梁給事黃門侍郎。
Cai Ning, styled Ziju, was from Kaocheng in Jiyang. His grandfather Zun was a Liang minister of the masters of writing and golden-glow grandee. His father Yangao was a Liang attendant in the yellow gate.
66
凝年位未高，而才地為時所重，常端坐西齋，自非素貴名流，罕所交接，趣時者多譏焉。 高宗常謂凝曰：「我欲用義興主婿錢肅為黃門郎，卿意何如？」 凝正色對曰：「帝鄉舊戚，恩由聖旨，則無所復問。 若格以僉議，黃散之職，故須人門兼美，惟陛下裁之。」 高宗默然而止。 肅聞而有憾，令義興主日譖之於高宗，尋免官，遷交阯。 頃之，追還。
Ning's rank and position were not yet high, but talent and standing were weighty in the age; he regularly sat upright in the western studio—unless they were by nature noble and famous, he rarely received them; those who curried favor often ridiculed him. Emperor Gaozong once said to Ning, "I wish to use the prince of Yixing's son-in-law Qian Su as yellow gate gentleman—what is your opinion?" Ning answered with stern countenance, "Kinsmen of the imperial district—if favor comes by imperial intent, there is nothing further to ask. If measured by collective deliberation, for the posts of yellow gate and scattered cavalry one needs combined excellence in family and person—only Your Majesty may judge." Emperor Gaozong fell silent and stopped. Su heard and bore resentment; he had the prince of Yixing daily slander him to Emperor Gaozong; soon Ning was removed from office and transferred to Jiaozhi. Before long he was recalled.
67
後主嗣位，授晉安王諮議參軍，轉給事黃門侍郎。 後主嘗置酒會，群臣歡甚，將移醼於弘範宮，眾人咸從，唯凝與袁憲不行。 後主曰：「卿何為者？」 凝對曰：「長樂尊嚴，非酒後所過，臣不敢奉詔。」 眾人失色。 後主曰：「卿醉矣。」 即令引出。 他日，後主謂吏部尚書蔡徵曰：「蔡凝負地矜才，無所用也。」 尋遷信威晉熙王府長史，鬱鬱不得志，乃喟然歎曰：「天道有廢興，夫子云『樂天知命』，斯理庶幾可達。」 因製小室賦以見志，甚有辭理。 陳亡入隋，道病卒，時年四十七。
When Houzhu succeeded, he was made deliberator in the prince of Jin'an's household, then transferred to attendant in the yellow gate. Houzhu once set a drinking party; the ministers were very merry and were about to move the feast to Hongfan Palace; the crowd all followed—only Ning and Yuan Xian would not go. Houzhu said, "What are you doing?" Ning answered, "Changle's dignity is not to be passed after wine—your servant dare not accept the edict." The crowd turned pale. Houzhu said, "You are drunk." He at once ordered him led out. Another day Houzhu said to minister of personnel Cai Zheng, "Cai Ning relies on his standing and prides himself on talent—there is no use for him." Soon he was transferred to chief clerk in the trust-the-might prince of Jinxi's household. Depressed and without achieving his aim, he sighed and said, "Heaven's Way has decline and rise; the Master said 'rejoice in Heaven and know fate'—this principle can nearly be reached." He therefore composed the Little Chamber Fu to show his intent—very fine in reasoning and pattern. When Chen perished he entered Sui; on the road he took ill and died at forty-seven.
68
子君知頗知名。
His son Junzhi was quite well known.
69
阮卓，陳留尉氏人。 祖詮，梁散騎侍郎。 父問道，梁寧遠岳陽王府記室參軍。
Ruan Zhuo was from Weishi in Chenliu. His grandfather Quan was a Liang regular attendant of the scattered cavalry. His father Wendao was a Liang recorder of the staff in the pacify-the-far prince of Yueyang's household.
70
卓幼而聰敏，篤志經籍，善談論，尤工五言詩。 性至孝，其父隨岳陽王出鎮江州，遇疾而卒，卓時年十五，自都奔赴，水漿不入口者累日。 屬侯景之亂，道路阻絕，卓冒履險艱，載喪柩還都。 在路遇賊，卓形容毀瘁，號哭自陳，賊哀而不殺之，仍護送出境。 及渡彭蠡湖，中流忽遇疾風，船幾沒者數四，卓仰天悲號，俄而風息，人皆以為孝感之至焉。
Zhuo from youth was clever and keen, devoted in aim to the classics, skilled in discourse, and especially expert in five-character poetry. His nature was utmost filial; his father followed the prince of Yueyang out to garrison Jiangzhou, met illness, and died—Zhuo was then fifteen and rushed from the capital to attend him, for many days taking neither water nor gruel. As Hou Jing's rebellion came, the roads were cut off; Zhuo braved danger and hardship and carried the coffin back to the capital. On the road he met bandits. Zhuo was wasted and wretched, wailing and pleading his case; the bandits pitied him and did not kill him, but escorted him out of the territory. Crossing Pengli Lake, he met a sudden gale midstream and the boat nearly sank four times. Zhuo cried out to Heaven; the wind soon ceased, and all took it as filial feeling moving Heaven to the utmost.
71
叔陵之誅也，後主謂朝臣曰：「阮卓素不同逆，宜加旌異。」 至德元年，入為德教殿學士。 尋兼通直散騎常侍，副王話聘隋。 隋主夙聞卓名，乃遣河東薛道衡、琅邪顏之推等，與卓談醼賦詩，賜遺加禮。 還除招遠將軍、南海王府諮議參軍。 以目疾不之官，退居里舍，改構亭宇，脩山池卉木，招致賓友，以文酒自娛。 禎明三年入于隋，行至江州，追感其父所終，因遘疾而卒，時年五十九。
When Shuling was executed, Houzhu told the court, "Ruan Zhuo was never of the rebels; he should be specially honored." In the first year of Zhide he entered as academician of the Hall of Virtue and Instruction. Soon he was also direct-and-plain attendant of the scattered cavalry, deputy to Wang Hua on the mission to Sui. The Sui Emperor had long heard of Zhuo and sent Xue Daoheng of Hedong, Yan Zhitui of Langye, and others to feast and compose poetry with him, with added gifts and courtesy. On return he was made general who draws distant and staff adviser to the prince of Nanhai's household. Eye disease kept him from office; he retired home, rebuilt pavilions, laid out ponds and gardens, gathered guests, and amused himself with books and wine. In Zhenming year 3 he entered Sui; at Jiangzhou, moved by where his father had died, he fell ill and died at fifty-nine.
72
時有武威陰鏗，字子堅，梁左衛將軍子春之子。 幼聰慧，五歲能誦詩賦，日千言。 及長，博涉史傳，尤善五言詩，為當時所重。 釋褐梁湘東王法曹參軍。 天寒，鏗嘗與賓友宴飲，見行觴者，因回酒炙以授之，眾坐皆笑，鏗曰：「吾儕終日酣飲，而執爵者不知其味，非人情也。」 及侯景之亂，鏗嘗為賊所擒，或救之獲免，鏗問其故，乃前所行觴者。 天嘉中，為始興王府中錄事參軍。 世祖嘗醼群臣賦詩，徐陵言之於世祖，即日召鏗預醼，使賦新成安樂宮，鏗援筆便就，世祖甚歎賞之。 累遷招遠將軍、晉陵太守、員外散騎常侍，頃之卒。 有集三卷行於世。
At the time Yin Keng of Wuwei, styled Zijian, was son of Liang's left guard general Zichun. Clever from youth, at five he could recite poetry and rhapsodies—a thousand characters a day. Grown, he was broadly versed in histories and especially skilled in five-character poetry, highly regarded in his day. On first appointment he was law-bureau officer in the prince of Xiangdong's Liang kingdom. One cold day Keng feasted with guests; seeing the wine-server pass, he sent back roast meat for him. The company laughed. Keng said, "We drink all day, yet the cup-bearer never tastes the wine—not human feeling." In Hou Jing's rebellion Keng was once seized by bandits; someone rescued him. He asked why—it was the wine-server from before. In Tianchen he was recorder in the prince of Shixing's household. Emperor Wen once banqueted the ministers for poetry; Xu Ling spoke of Keng to him, and that day Keng was summoned and told to compose on the new Ancheng Palace of Peace and Joy. He wrote at once, and Emperor Wen greatly admired him. He rose to general who draws distant, Jinling administrator, and supernumerary irregular attendant of the scattered cavalry; soon he died. A collection of three scrolls circulated in his time.
73
【評】
Appraisal
74
史臣曰：夫文學者，蓋人倫之所基歟？ 是以君子異乎眾庶。 昔仲尼之論四科，始乎德行，終於文學，斯則聖人亦所貴也。 至如杜之偉之徒，值於休運，各展才用，之偉尤著美焉。
The historiographer says: Literature—is it not the foundation of human relations? Thus the gentleman differs from the common multitude. Formerly Confucius ranked four categories, beginning with virtue and ending with literature—the sage valued that too. Men like Du Zhiwei met a fortunate age and each showed his talent; Zhiwei was especially distinguished.
75
「江德操字德藻」或本「江德藻字德藻」，疑。
Whether the name reads Jiang Dezao (cao) styled Dezao or Jiang Dezao (zao) styled Dezao is doubtful.
76
校勘記
Collation notes
77
〔一〕中大 （同） 〔通〕元年梁武帝幸同泰寺捨身敕勉撰定儀註按徐勉卒於大同元年，中大同在大同之後。 查梁書武帝紀，梁武帝於中大通元年九月幸同泰寺捨身，明「中大同」為「中大通」之訛，今據改。
On "[1] Central Great Unity" Collation variant: (same). On "[Tong] year 1 Liang Emperor Wu at Tongtai Temple renounced the body and ordered Xu Mian to draft and fix the ritual regulations" The Book of Liang, Annals of Emperor Wu, has Liang Wudi renounce the body at Tongtai in the ninth month of Zhongdatong year 1; Central Great Unity is an error for Central Grand Passage and is now emended.
78
〔二〕以之偉掌記室「偉」字原本缺，據各本補。
On "[2] made Zhiwei manage the secretariat": wei was missing in the base text and is supplied per all editions.
79
〔三〕仍侍臨 （成） 〔城〕公讀據梁書南郡王大連傳改。 按孫吳赤烏中，析陵陽、石城二縣地置臨城縣，梁屬南陵郡。
On "[3] still attended Lin" Collation variant: (cheng). On "[cheng] duke's study": emended per the biography of Prince of Southern Commandery Dalian in the Book of Liang. In Sun Wu's Chiwu era, parts of Lingyang and Shicheng were split off as Lincheng county; under Liang it belonged to Nanling commandery.
80
〔四〕〔大同〕七年據南史補。
On "[4] [Datong] seventh year": supplied per the Southern History.
81
〔五〕時樂府無孔子顏子登哥詞「哥」各本作「歌」。 按哥古歌字。
On "[5] at the time the Music Bureau lacked lyrics for Confucius and Yanzi ascending": ge in all editions is written song. Ge is the ancient form of the character for song.
82
〔六〕臣無容遽變市朝「變」元龜四六四作「戀」。
On "[6] your servant has no room hastily to change market and court": change in Yuan Gui 464 reads cherish.
83
〔七〕江德 （操） 〔藻〕字德藻據北監本、殿本及南史改。 按本書總目、子目均作「德藻」，本傳後文亦同，洪頤楫諸史考異及張森楷校勘記並以作「德操」為誤。
On "[7] Jiang De" Collation variant: (cao). On "[zao] styled Dezao": emended per the Northern Supervisory, Hall, and Southern History editions. This book's tables and this biography later read Dezao; Hong Yijun and Zhang Senkai both treat writing Dezao (cao) as the error.
84
〔八〕天嘉四年至與中書郎劉師知使齊按南康愍王曇朗傳，江德藻與劉師知奉使至齊迎曇朗喪柩，以天嘉三年春還都，則德藻等使齊當在天嘉三年前，「四年」疑「二年」之誤。
On "[8] from Tianchen year 4 with Secretariat attendant Liu Shizhi on a mission to Qi": per the biography of Prince Nan'ang Tanlang, Dezao and Shizhi escorted the coffin from Qi and returned in spring of Tianchen year 3; the mission must have been before year 3—year 4 is probably year 2.
85
〔九〕庾持字允德「允德」南史作「元德」。
On "[9] Yu Chi styled Yunde": Yunde in the Southern History reads Yuande.
86
〔一０〕父〔沙〕彌據北監本、汲本、殿本補。 按庾沙彌梁書有傳。
On "[10] father [Sha]mi": supplied per the Northern Supervisory, Ji, and Hall editions. Yu Shami has a biography in the Book of Liang.
87
〔一一〕天監初世祖與持有舊張森楷校勘記云：「高祖以天監二年生，世祖安得於天監初與持有舊？ 此必誤也。」 今按：以傳文敘事之次第推之，「天監」疑為「太清」之誤。
On "[11] early in Tianjian the Founder and Chi had old ties": Zhang Senkai's note says the Founder was born in Tianjian year 2—how could he already have old ties with Chi at the start of Tianjian? This must certainly be an error." On further examination, judging by the sequence of events in the biography, Tianjian is probably an error for Taiqing.
88
〔一二〕坐杖殺縣民免封南史無「封」字。 按上文言「世祖怒之，因坐免」，當是免去其尚書左丞，至此始免其封爵，「封」字非衍文。
On "[12] punished for beating a county man to death and lost enfeoffment": the Southern History lacks enfeoffment. Above, Emperor Wen's anger led to dismissal from left vice director; only here is enfeoffment finally lost—enfeoffment is not redundant.
89
〔一三〕 （遷） 〔還〕為給事黃門侍郎據南史改。 按此言持免臨安令後，還都為給事黃門侍郎也。 「遷」與「還」形近而訛。
Note 13. Collation variant: (transfer). On "[return] made Gentlemen Attendant of the Yellow Gate": emended per the Southern History. After Chi left the Lin'an magistracy he returned to the capital as Gentlemen Attendant of the Yellow Gate. Transfer and return are graphically similar and were corrupted.
90
〔一四〕解褐梁安東王行參軍張森楷校勘記云：「梁無安東王，安東是將軍號，疑此『東』字下有脫文。」
On "[14] on first appointment, staff officer in the Prince of Andong's Liang kingdom": Zhang Senkai notes Liang had no prince of Andong; Andong is a general's title—probably text is missing after east.
91
〔一五〕所司收僧辯及其子頠〔屍〕據北監本、殿本及南史補。
On "[15] the authorities collected Sengbian and his son Yan's [corpse]": corpse supplied per the Northern Supervisory, Hall editions, and Southern History.
92
〔一六〕相率以家財營葬 （具） 據北監本、汲本、殿本及南史刪。
On "[16] together used family wealth to arrange the funeral" Collation variant: (implements). Deleted per the Northern Supervisory, Ji, Hall editions, and Southern History.
93
〔一七〕遇有猛獸「獸」北監本、汲本、殿本作「虎」，下同。 按南史亦作「獸」，蓋避唐諱。 作「虎」乃後人回改。
On "[17] encountered a fierce beast": beast in the Northern Supervisory, Ji, and Hall editions reads tiger, the same below. The Southern History also reads beast—probably Tang taboo avoidance. Tiger is a later restoration.
94
〔一八〕遷安成王長史「史」原本訛「子」，各本不訛，今改正。
On "[18] transferred to chief administrator of the Prince of Ancheng": administrator in the base text was wrongly written son; other editions are correct; now emended.
95
〔一九〕并親製祭文遣使者弔祭北監本、汲本、殿本「文」上無「祭」字，「使」下無「者」字。
On "[19] together personally drafted a sacrificial text and sent an envoy to perform mourning sacrifice": the Northern Supervisory, Ji, and Hall editions lack sacrifice before text and envoy after sent.
96
〔二０〕恆有酸恨「恨」北監本、汲本、殿本作「梗」。
On "[20] always had sour resentment": resentment in the Northern Supervisory, Ji, and Hall editions reads lump in the throat.
97
〔二一〕梁大匠卿晏〔子〕之子據南史補。 按梁書陸雲公傳，雲公有兄名晏子，即此晏子也。
On "[21] Liang Grand Master of Works Yan [zi]'s son": zi supplied per the Southern History. The Book of Liang biography of Lu Yungong names an elder brother Yanzi—this Yanzi.
98
〔二二〕武陵王以太尉承制授南梁州 （長） 〔刺〕史據南史改。 按州無長史。
On "[22] the Prince of Wuling, as Grand Marshal assuming the regency, appointed him to South Liang province" Collation variant: (chief). On "[inspector]": emended per the Southern History. A province has no chief administrator.
99
〔二三〕之元從邵陵太守劉恭之郡「劉恭」南史作「劉棻」。 通鑑梁敬帝紹泰元年「邵陵太守劉棻將兵援江陵」，亦作「劉棻」。 下同。
On "[23] Zhiyuan followed Shaoling prefect Liu Gong to the commandery": Liu Gong in the Southern History reads Liu Fei. The Comprehensive Mirror, Liang Emperor Jing Shaotai year 1, also has Shaoling prefect Liu Fei leading troops to relieve Jiangling. The same below.
100
〔二四〕編年之作「編」原本訛「繼」，各本不訛，今改正。
On "[24] annalistic composition": annal in the base text was wrongly written continue; other editions are correct; now emended.
101
〔二五〕甚見佳賞「佳」北監本、汲本、殿本作「嘉」。
On "[25] greatly received fine appreciation": fine in the Northern Supervisory, Ji, and Hall editions reads commendation.