1
顧和
Gu He
2
顧和，字君孝，侍中衆之族子也。 曾祖容，吳荊州刺史。 祖相，臨海太守。 和二歲喪父，總角便有清操，族叔榮雅重之，曰：「此吾家麒麟，興吾宗者，必此子也。」 時宗人球亦有令聞，為州別駕，榮謂之曰：「卿速步，君孝超卿矣！」
Gu He, whose courtesy name was Junxiao, belonged to a cadet line of Gu Zhong, the former Palace Attendant. His great-grandfather Rong had served Wu as regional inspector of Jing Province. His grandfather Xiang had been governor of Linhai commandery. Orphaned at two, he showed moral clarity while still a child. His uncle Rong thought the world of him and declared, “Here is our clan’s qilin—this boy will restore our house.” Another kinsman named Qiu was already known as capable and held the post of provincial aide. Rong told him bluntly, “You may be quick on your feet, but Junxiao will leave you behind.”
3
王導為揚州，辟從事。 月旦當朝，未入，停車門外。 周顗遇之，和方擇虱，夷然不動。 顗既過，顧指和心曰：「此中何所有？」 和徐應曰：「此中最是難測地。」 顗入，謂導曰：「卿州吏中有一令僕才。」 導亦以為然。 和嘗詣導，導小極，對之疲睡。 和欲叩會之，因謂同坐曰：「昔每聞族叔元公道葉贊中宗，保全江表。 體小不安，令人喘息。」 導覺之，謂和曰：「卿珪璋特達，機警有鋒，不徒東南之美，實為海內之俊。」 由是遂知名。 既而導遣八部從事之部，和為下傳還，同時俱見，諸從事各言二千石官長得失，和獨無言。 導問和：「卿何所聞？」 答曰：「明公作輔，寧使網漏吞舟，何緣采聽風聞，以察察為政。」 導咨嗟稱善。
Wang Dao, while heading Yang Province, recruited Gu He onto his staff. On the day of the first court session of the month, before going in, he drew up his carriage outside the gate. Zhou Yi came upon him as he sat picking lice from his robe, perfectly composed. When Zhou Yi walked past, he turned back, tapped Gu He’s breast, and asked, “What have you got in there?” Gu He replied calmly, “This is the spot no one can easily read.” Zhou Yi went in and told Wang Dao, “One of your provincial aides has the makings of a chief minister.” Wang Dao agreed. On one visit to Wang Dao, the minister was mildly indisposed and dozed off in Gu He’s presence. Gu He considered rousing him and remarked to the others, “We always heard my uncle Yuanda praise Emperor Zhongzong’s cooperation with him and how together they kept the south secure. Even a slight indisposition in such a man was enough to take one’s breath away.” Wang Dao woke, overheard him, and said, “You are cut from exceptional stuff—sharp and perceptive. You are not only the best the southeast has to offer; you rank among the finest in the empire.” From that moment his name was made. Soon Wang Dao dispatched eight regional inspectors; Gu He came back from the outer circuits with their reports and was admitted with the rest. Every inspector aired complaints about the commandery governors—only Gu He stayed silent. Wang Dao pressed him: “What did you hear?” Gu He replied, “You govern as chief minister—surely the net may let the great fish slip rather than you chase gossip and rule by nit-picking.” Wang Dao sighed his approval.
4
累遷司徒左曹掾。 時東海王沖為長水校尉，妙選僚屬，以沛國劉耽為司馬，和為主簿。 永昌初，除司徒掾。 太甯初，王敦請為主簿，遷太子舍人、車騎參軍、護軍長史。 王導為揚州，請為別駕，所歷皆著稱。 遷散騎侍郎、尚書吏部。 司空郗鑒請為長史，領晉陵太守。 咸康初，拜御史中丞，劾奏尚書左丞戴抗髒汙百萬，付法議罪，並免尚書傅玩、郎劉傭官，百僚憚之。 遷侍中。 初，中興東遷，舊章多闕，而冕旒飾以翡翠珊瑚及雜珠等。 和奏：「舊冕十有二旒，皆用玉珠，今用雜珠等，非禮。 若不能用玉，可用白旋珠。」 成帝於是始下太常改之。 先是，帝以保母周氏有阿保之勞，欲假其名號，內外皆奉詔。 和獨上疏以為「周保佑聖躬，不遺其勳，第舍供給擬于戚屬，恩澤所加已為過隆。 若假名號，記籍未見明比，惟漢靈帝以乳母趙嬈為平氏君，此末代之私恩，非先代之令典。 且君舉必書，將軌物垂則。 書而不法，後嗣何觀！」 帝從之。 轉吏部尚書，頻徙領軍將軍、太常卿、國子祭酒。
He advanced step by step to secretary in the Minister of Education’s left section. While the Prince of Donghai, Chong, held the colonelcy of the Changshui encampment, he handpicked his staff, naming Liu Dan of Pei marshal and Gu He chief clerk. At the start of the Yongchang reign he received appointment as secretary to the Minister of Education. Early in Taining, Wang Dun took him on as chief clerk; he rose to gentleman-attendant at the heir’s palace, then adviser on the staff of the chariot-and-cavalry general and chief clerk to the Defender-in-Chief. When Wang Dao ran Yang Province he brought Gu He in as provincial aide; everywhere he served, people praised him. He moved up to gentleman of the palace gate and served in the Ministry of Personnel. Xi Jian, minister of works, asked him to serve as chief clerk while doubling as prefect of Jinling. Early in Xiankang he became imperial censor and charged Assistant Minister of the Left Dai Kang with embezzling a million cash, sending the case to the courts; Minister Fu Wan and Gentleman Liu Yong were stripped of office as well. The bureaucracy trembled at him. He was elevated to palace attendant. After the court fled east, many ritual codes were lost; even the twelve strings of the imperial crown had been decked out with jadeite, coral, and assorted beads. Gu He submitted: “The classical crown carries twelve tassels of jade beads. Substituting mixed pearls breaks the rites. If true jade cannot be had, use white spinel pearls instead.” Emperor Cheng then instructed the Chamberlain for Ceremonial to correct it. Earlier the emperor wanted to give his wet nurse, Lady Zhou, an honorific rank for raising him, and the whole court was prepared to go along. Gu He alone argued that Lady Zhou had cared for the sovereign and already received ample reward—housing and allowances fit for family—and that further honors would overshoot decency. Granting her a formal title had no respectable precedent except Emperor Ling’s scandalous elevation of his nurse Zhao Rao—private indulgence from a fallen age, not a model worth following. Besides, whatever a ruler does goes into the histories and becomes the pattern others must live by. Record something irregular, and what lesson does it teach those who come after!” The emperor agreed. He rotated into the Ministry of Personnel, then successively commanded the palace armies, headed the Chamberlain’s office, and served as libationer of the national university.
5
康帝即位，將祀南北郊，和議以為車駕宜親行。 帝從之，皆躬親行禮。 遷尚書僕射，以母老固辭，詔書敕喻，物聽暮出朝還，其見優遇如此。 尋朝議以端右之副不宜處外，更拜銀青光祿大夫，領國子祭酒。 頃之，母憂去職，居喪以孝聞。 既練，衛將軍褚裒上疏薦和，起為尚書令，遣散騎郎喻旨。 和每見逼促，輒號咷慟絕，謂所親曰：「古人或有釋其憂服以祗王命，蓋以才足干時，故不得不體國徇義。 吾在常日猶不如人，況今中心荒亂，將何以補於萬分，只足以示輕忘孝道，貽素冠之義耳。」 帝又下詔曰：「百揆務殷，端右總要，而曠職經久，甚以悒然。 昔先朝政道休明，中夏隆盛，山賈諸公皆釋服從時，不獲遂其情禮。 況今日艱難百王之弊，尚書令禮已過祥練，豈得聽不赴急疾而遂罔極之情乎！」 和表疏十餘上，遂不起，服闋，然後視職。
Emperor Kang planned suburban sacrifices north and south; Gu He insisted the emperor should attend in person. The emperor followed his advice and carried out every ritual himself. Promoted to vice director of the secretariat, he begged off because his mother was elderly; the throne wrote to insist and let him go home at nightfall yet attend audiences at dawn—an extraordinary courtesy. Court opinion soon decided the vice premier ought not hold an outside post, so he was made grand master of the palace with silver and blue ribbon while remaining libationer of the academy. When his mother died he resigned and earned a reputation for exemplary mourning. After the zhuan rites, Chu Pou, general who guards the court, recommended him for director of the secretariat and the court dispatched a palace messenger with the summons. Each time officials pressured him, Gu He sobbed until he fainted and told his intimates, “Ancient worthies sometimes shed mourning to obey a summons when their abilities were indispensable—but I am less capable than most even in ordinary times. Now my mind is in ruins—what good could I do? I would only advertise disdain for mourning and shame the ideal of the unadorned cap.” The emperor wrote again: “State business piles up and the director’s office is the hinge of government, yet it stands vacant—this weighs on me. Under earlier reigns, when the realm prospered, even men like Shan Tao put aside mourning to serve—they could not cling to private grief alone. Today’s troubles pile higher still; you have already passed the extended mourning stages—can we let you hide in endless sorrow while the realm waits?” Gu He answered with over ten memorials refusing to serve; he reported for duty only after the mourning term closed.
6
時南中郎將謝尚領宣城內史，收涇令陳幹殺之，有司以尚違法糾黜，詔原之。 和重奏曰：「尚先劾奸髒罪，入甲戍赦，聽自首減死。 而尚近表雲幹包藏奸猾，輒收行刑。 幹事狀自郡，非犯軍戎，不由都督。 案尚蒙親賢之舉，荷文武之任，不能為國惜體，平心聽斷，內挾小憾，肆其威虐，遠近怪愕，莫不解體。 尚忝外屬，宥之有典，至於下吏，宜正刑辟。」 尚，皇太后舅，故寢其奏。 時汝南王統、江夏公衛崇並為庶母制服三年，和乃奏曰：「禮所以軌物成教，故有國家者莫不崇正明本，以一其統，斯人倫之紀，不二之道也。 為人後者，降其所出，奪天屬之性，顯至公之義，降殺節文，著于周典。 案汝南王統為庶母居廬服重，江夏公衛崇本由疏屬，開國之緒，近喪所生，復行重制，違冒禮度，肆其私情。 閭閻許其過厚，談者莫以為非，則政道陵遲由乎禮廢，憲章頹替始于容違。 若弗糾正，無以齊物。 皆可下太常奪服。 若不祗王命，應加貶黜。」 詔從之。 和居任多所獻納，雖權臣不苟阿撓。
Xie Shang, leader of the southern household guards and acting prefect of Xuancheng, seized and executed Jing county magistrate Chen Gan. Officials wanted him cashiered for breaking statute, but an edict let him off. Gu He fired back: “Xie Shang first denounced Chen Gan’s graft; the matter was covered by the Jiaxu amnesty, which permitted voluntary surrender to avoid execution. Now Xie Shang writes that Chen Gan was secretly malicious and therefore had to be arrested and killed. The case belonged to the civil administration—it was no battlefield offense and never crossed the regional commander’s desk. Xie Shang was picked as a trusted elite with both civil and martial duty, yet he indulged a private spite and threw his weight around instead of protecting the law’s dignity; officials everywhere were dumbfounded and lost faith in him. Because he is imperial in-law, mercy may have precedent—but junior officers who abuse authority deserve the full penalty.” Xie Shang was the empress dowager’s uncle, so the throne quietly buried Gu He’s protest. When Prince Tong of Runan and Duke Wei Chong of Jiangxia both wore three-year mourning for foster mothers, Gu He argued: “Rites govern behavior and teaching; every state affirms one legitimate lineage. That principle admits no split allegiance. Adopted heirs downgrade birth parents to serve the main line—the Zhou rituals spell out the gradations. Prince Tong keeps full mourning for a concubine; Duke Wei, a distant cadet ennobled only by the founding ancestor, buries his natural mother and then insists on the heaviest rites—flouting protocol for private sentiment. If neighbors call it devotion and no one objects, governance slides because rites erode and law frays where exceptions multiply. Unless we correct this, we cannot hold everyone to one standard. Send them all to the Chamberlain for Ceremonial to remove the improper mourning. Anyone who defies the decree should be degraded.” The court approved. Throughout his tenure he spoke plainly to the throne and refused to truckle to mighty favorites.
7
和以疾篤辭位，拜左光祿大夫、儀同三司，加散騎常侍，尚書令如故。 其年卒，年六十四。 追贈侍中、司空，諡曰穆。
When grave illness forced Gu He to yield his offices, the court still named him grand master of the left with honors equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, added gentleman at the palace gate, and allowed him to remain director of the secretariat. He died the same year at sixty-four. He was posthumously named palace attendant and minister of works with the epithet Mu, meaning Solemn.
8
子淳，歷尚書吏部郎、給事黃門侍郎、左衛將軍。
His son Gu Chun rose through personnel posts, the yellow-gate palace corps, and command of the left guard.
9
袁瑰
Yuan Mei
10
袁瑰，字山甫，陳郡陽夏人，魏郎中令渙之曾孫也。 祖、父並早卒。 瑰與弟猷欲奉母避亂，求為江淮間縣，拜呂令，轉江都，因南渡。 元帝以為丹陽令。 中興建，拜奉朝請，遷治書御史。 時東海王越屍既為石勒所焚，妃裴氏求招魂葬越，朝廷疑之。 瑰與博士傅純議，以為招魂葬是謂埋神，不可從也。 帝然之，雖許裴氏招魂葬越，遂下詔禁之。 尋除廬江太守。 大將軍王敦引為諮議參軍。 俄為臨川太守。 敦平，為鎮南將軍陶侃軍司。 尋自解還都，游於會稽。 蘇峻之難，與王舒共起義軍，以功封長合鄉侯，征補散騎常侍，徙大司農尋除國子祭酒。 頃之，加散騎常侍。
Yuan Mei, courtesy Shanfu, came from Yangxia in Chen commandery and traced his descent from Yuan Huan, minister of gentlemen under Wei. Both his grandfather and father died early. He and his brother You sought a riverside county post so they could move their mother out of chaos—first magistrate of Lü, then Jiangdu—and crossed south with her. Emperor Yuan named him prefect of Danyang. After the eastern court was established he became court presenter and then imperial secretary. The Prince of Donghai’s body had been cremated by Shi Le; Lady Pei asked to bury a soul-summoning garment in lieu of remains, and ministers hesitated. Yuan Mei and scholar Fu Chun argued that “summoning the soul” amounted to burying a ghost-soul and must be refused. The emperor accepted in principle yet let Lady Pei bury Prince Yue’s effigy, then banned the custom by edict. Shortly afterward he became prefect of Lujiang. Wang Dun took him on as consulting adviser. He soon transferred to Linchuan prefect. Once Wang Dun was defeated, Yuan Mei became army marshal on Tao Kan’s staff in the southern command. He soon resigned and came back to Jiankang, then wandered in Kuaiji. When Su Jun rebelled he mustered forces with Wang Shu, earned a village marquisate at Changhe, returned to court as gentleman at the palace gate, moved to minister of agriculture, and shortly became libationer of the academy. He soon picked up a concurrent post as gentleman at the palace gate.
11
于時喪亂之後，禮教陵遲，瑰上疏曰：
With the realm broken and etiquette in ruins, Yuan Mei addressed the throne:
12
疏奏，成帝從之。 國學之興，自瑰始也。 以年在懸車，上疏告老，尋卒，追贈光祿大夫，諡曰恭。 子喬嗣。
Emperor Cheng approved his memorial. The national university owed its revival to Yuan Mei. Past the conventional retirement age he asked leave to retire, died soon after, and received posthumous honors as grand master of brilliant splendor with the canonizing epithet Gong. His son Yuan Qiao succeeded him.
13
子喬
Yuan Qiao.
14
子喬
Yuan Qiao
15
喬字彥叔。 初拜佐著作郎。 輔國將軍桓溫請為司馬，除司徒左西屬，不就，拜尚書郎。 桓溫鎮京口，復引為司馬，領廣陵相。 初，喬與褚裒友善，及康獻皇后臨朝，喬與裒書曰：「皇太后踐登正阼，臨御皇朝，將軍之于國，外姓之太上皇也。 至於皇子近屬，咸有揖讓之禮，而況策名人臣，而交媟人父，天性攸尊，亦宜體國而重矣。 故友之好，請於此辭。 染絲之變，墨翟致懷，岐路之感，楊硃興歎，況于將軍游處少長，雖世譽先後而臭味同歸也。 平昔之交，與禮數而降，箕踞之歎，隨時事而替，雖欲虛詠濠肆，脫落儀制，其能得乎！ 來物無停，變化遷代，豈惟寸晷，事亦有之。 夫禦器者神，制衆以約，願將軍貽情無事，以理勝為任，親杖賢達，以納善為大。 執筆惆悵，不能自盡。」 論者以為得禮。
Yuan Qiao’s courtesy name was Yanshu. He began as assistant editor in the institute. Huan Wen tried to hire him as marshal; the court named him western aide under the minister of education—he refused—and then gentleman of the secretariat. Huan Wen, stationed at Jingkou, recalled Yuan Qiao as his marshal and put him in charge of Guangling as well. Yuan Qiao had long been close to Chu Pou. Once Empress Dowager Kangxian began regency, he wrote: “The queen mother sits on the proper throne and governs the realm—you are to this court what a paramount father-in-law would be to an outsider clan. Even imperial kin still observe deference in public—how much more a minister listed in the roster who would bandy intimacies with another man’s father? Natural obligations of respect exist; you should put the polity first. So I must end our former friendship at this point. Mozi mourned how silk changes color in the dye; Yang Zhu wept at life’s diverging roads—so too for us, friends since youth: fame may come sooner or later, but we breathed the same air. Courtesy now narrows what old camaraderie allowed; the reproof for sprawling discourtesy shifts with the times—there is no going back to abstract chatter about Carefree Roaming and shedding ritual. Nothing stays still; times turn over faster than a shadow—circumstances move too. The pilot must be nimble; governing crowds demands simplicity—please quiet personal feeling while things are still, make order your burden, draw near to the wise, and prize sound advice above all. Pen in hand, I am heavy-hearted and cannot say all I mean.” Opinion held that he had struck the proper ritual note.
16
遷安西諮議參軍、長沙相，不拜。 尋督沔中諸戍江夏隨義陽三郡軍事、建武將軍、江夏相。 時桓溫謀伐蜀，衆以為不可，喬勸溫曰：「夫經略大事，故非常情所具，智者了于胸心，然後舉無遺算耳。 今天下之難，二寇而已。 蜀雖險固，方胡為弱，將欲除之，先從易者。 今溯流萬里，經歷天險，彼或有備，不必可克。 然蜀人自以鬥絕一方，恃其完固，不修攻戰之具，若以精卒一萬，輕軍速進，比彼聞之，我已入其險要，李勢君臣不過自力一戰，擒之必矣。 論者恐大軍既西，胡必窺覦，此又似是而非。 何者？ 胡聞萬里片征伐，以為內有重備，必不敢動。 縱復越逸江渚，諸軍足以守境，此無憂矣。 蜀土富實，號稱天府，昔諸葛武侯欲以抗衡中國。 今誠不能為害，然勢據上流，易為寇盜。 若襲而取之者，有其人衆，此國之大利也。」 溫從之，使喬以江夏相領二千人為軍鋒。 師次彭模，去賊已近，議者欲兩道並進，以分賊勢。 喬曰：「今深入萬里，置之死地，士無反顧之心，所謂人自為戰者也。 今分為兩軍，軍力不一，萬一偏敗，則大事去矣。 不如全軍而進，棄去釜甑，齎三日糧，勝可必矣。」 溫以為然，即一時俱進。 去成都十里，與賊大戰，前鋒失利，喬軍亦退，矢及馬首，左右失色。 喬因麾而進，聲氣愈厲，遂大破之，長驅至成都。 李勢既降，勢將鄧定、隗文以其屬反，衆各萬餘。 溫自擊定，喬擊文，破之。 進號龍驤將軍，封湘西伯。 尋卒，年三十六，溫甚悼惜之。 追贈益州刺史，諡曰簡。
They moved him to adviser under the general pacifying the west and offered him Changsha—he declined both. He then commanded Han River defenses plus Jiangxia, Sui, and Yiyang as General Who Establishes Might and prefect of Jiangxia. When Huan Wen aimed at Shu, court opinion scoffed. Yuan Qiao told him, “Great campaigns exceed common sense—only when a strategist has done the math in silence does the plan hold. The empire today faces just two enemies. Shu is steep but weaker than the northern tribes—cut the weak link first. A river assault ten thousand li upstream runs every natural hazard—the enemy may be ready, so success is no certainty. Still, Shu rests smug behind its walls and lets its arms rust—strike with ten thousand elites before rumor catches up, seize the narrows, and Li Shi’s regime will manage one frantic fight at best; victory follows. Critics warn that marching west invites Hu raids—it sounds sensible but is not. Why? Northern tribes hearing of an expedition far away conclude the interior is heavily guarded and hesitate to move. Should raiders ford the Yangzi anyway, frontier armies can contain them—there is little to fear. Shu is fertile—Zhuge Liang once meant to use it to challenge the heartland. It cannot hurt us much now, yet perched upstream it invites marauders. Taking it yields manpower—a major prize for the state.” Huan Wen agreed and gave Yuan Qiao two thousand Jiangxia troops as vanguard. They camped at Pengmo with the foe close by; staff urged a two-pronged advance to divide Shu forces. Yuan Qiao replied, “We are ten thousand li deep on fatal terrain—soldiers fight as if their lives depend on each stroke. Split the force and uneven odds mean one defeat loses everything. Better drive forward intact, smash the cauldrons, march with three days’ rations—then we cannot lose.” Huan Wen concurred and pushed everyone forward together. Ten li short of Chengdu the great clash came—the van broke, Yuan Qiao’s men wavered, bolts whipped his mount’s mane, and aides turned pale. Yuan Qiao signaled the advance, shouted louder, shattered the Shu host, and raced to Chengdu. Once Li Shi yielded, generals Deng Ding and Kui Wen revolted with ten thousand men apiece. Huan Wen took Deng Ding himself; Yuan Qiao crushed Kui Wen. He was promoted to dragon-soaring general and made baron of Xiangxi. He died soon after at thirty-six; Huan Wen grieved bitterly. The court posthumously named him inspector of Yi with the epithet Jian, meaning Simple.
17
喬博學有文才，注《論語》及《詩》，並諸文筆皆行於世。
Yuan Qiao was learned and wrote well—his glosses on the Analects and the Odes plus his essays stayed in circulation.
18
子方平嗣，亦以軌素自立，辟大司馬掾，歷義興、琅邪太守。 卒，子山松嗣。
His son Fangping succeeded, kept a sober household, joined the grand marshal’s staff, and governed Yixing and Langye. On his death his son Shansong inherited the line.
19
喬孫山松
Yuan Shansong, Qiao’s grandson
20
喬孫山松
Yuan Shansong
21
山松少有才名，博學有文章，著《後漢書》百篇。 衿情秀遠，善音樂。 舊歌有《行路難》曲，辭頗疏質，山松好之，乃文其辭句，婉其節制，每因酣醉縱歌之。 聽者莫不流涕。 初羊曇善唱樂，桓伊能輓歌，及山松《行路難》繼之，時人謂之「三絕」。 時張湛好於齋前種松柏，而山松每出遊，好令左右作輓歌，人謂「湛屋下陳屍，山松道上行殯。」
Shansong was celebrated young—learned, prolific, author of a hundred-chapter Later Han history. He carried an aloof grace and loved music. The old song “Hard Road” had crude words; Shansong refined the verse and meter, then belted it whenever wine flowed. Listeners wept every time. Yang Tan sang beautifully, Huan Yi mastered dirges, then Shansong’s “Hard Road”—contemporaries dubbed them the three incomparables. Zhang Zhan grew pines and cypress by his study; Shansong paraded with hired mourners—wags said, “Zhan stacks corpses at home while Shansong holds street funerals.”
22
山松歷顯位，為吳郡太守。 孫恩作亂，山松守滬瀆，城陷被害。
He climbed to high office and governed Wu commandery. Sun En’s revolt caught him defending Hudu—the city fell and he died.
23
瑰弟猷
Yuan You, Mei’s younger brother.
24
瑰弟猷
Yuan You.
25
猷字申甫，少與瑰齊名。 代瑰為呂令，復相繼為江都，由是俱渡江。 瑰為丹陽，猷為武康，兄弟列宰名邑，論者美之。 歷位侍中、衛尉卿。 猷孫宏，見《文苑傳》。
You bore the courtesy name Shenfu and was as celebrated as his elder brother in youth. He followed Mei as prefect of Lü, then Jiangdu in turn, and crossed south with him. While Mei ran Danyang, You governed Wukang—brothers holding celebrated seats together won admiration. He advanced to palace attendant and minister of the palace guard. His grandson Yuan Hong is treated in the Literary Men section.
26
從祖準
Yuan Zhun, collateral great-uncle.
27
從祖準
Yuan Zhun.
28
準字孝尼，以儒學知名，注《喪服經》。 官至給事中。 準子沖，字景玄，光祿勳。 沖子耽。
Zhun, courtesy Xiaoni, earned renown as a classicist and wrote a commentary on mourning grades. He capped his career as palace aide. His son Chong, courtesy Jingxuan, rose to minister of the imperial household. Chong’s heir was Dan.
29
準孫耽
Yuan Dan, grandson of Zhun.
30
準孫耽
Yuan Dan.
31
耽字彥道，少有才氣，倜儻不羈，為士類所稱。 桓溫少時游於博徒，資產俱盡，尚有負進，思自振之方，莫知所出，欲求濟於耽，而耽在艱，試以告焉。 耽略無難色，遂變服懷布帽，隨溫與債主戲。 耽素有藝名，債者聞之而不相識，謂之曰：「卿當不辦作袁彥道也。」 遂就局十萬一擲，直上百萬。 耽投馬絕叫，探布帽擲地，曰：「竟識袁彥道不？」 其通脫若此。 蘇峻之役，王導引為參軍，隨導在石頭。 初，路永、匡術、寧等皆峻心腹，聞祖約奔敗，懼事不立，迭說峻誅大臣。 峻既不納，永等慮必敗，陰結於導。 導使耽潛說路永，使歸順。 峻平，封秭歸男，拜建威將軍、曆陽太守。 咸康初，石季龍游騎十餘匹至曆陽，耽上列不言騎少。 時胡寇強盛，朝野危懼，王導以宰輔之重請自討之。 既而賊騎不多，又已退散，導止不行。 朝廷以耽失於輕妄，黜之。 尋復為導從事中郎，方加大任，會卒，時年二十五。 子質。
Dan, courtesy Yandao, had flair and swagger from youth and impressed the elite. In youth Huan Wen gambled away his fortune and still owed money; desperate for rescue yet unsure how, he approached Dan—who was observing mourning—but tested the waters anyway. Dan agreed without hesitation—changed clothes, hid a cloth cap under his jacket, and joined Huan Wen at the creditor’s table. Dan was legendary at dice; the creditor had heard the name but did not know his face and sneered, “You cannot possibly be Yuan Yandao.” They opened play at a hundred thousand cash per cast—stakes shot toward a million. Dan slammed his pieces down, hurled the cap to the floor, and roared, “Still doubt Yuan Yandao?” Such was his swaggering nerve. In Su Jun’s coup Wang Dao enlisted him as adviser and kept him at Stone fortress. Lu Yong, Kuang Shu, Ning, and company had been Su Jun’s inner circle; when Zu Yue collapsed they feared the plot would unravel and pressed Su Jun to purge senior ministers. Su Jun refused; Yong’s faction foresaw doom and secretly negotiated with Wang Dao. Wang Dao had Dan approach Lu Yong quietly to defect. When Su Jun fell, Dan earned the Zigui barony, generalship who establishes might, and Liyang prefect. Early in Xiankang a handful of Shi Hu’s scouts appeared at Liyang; Dan’s report omitted how tiny the enemy band was. Northern pressure terrified everyone; chief minister Wang Dao volunteered to lead the response. Soon there proved to be almost no raiders—they had melted away—so Wang Dao stayed home. The court cashiered Dan for reckless alarmism. He returned as Wang Dao’s senior attendant on the verge of promotion but died at twenty-five. His son was Zhi.
32
耽子質
Yuan Zhi, Dan’s son.
33
耽子質
Yuan Zhi.
34
質字道和。 自渙至質五世，並以道素繼業，惟其父耽以雄豪著。 及質又以孝行稱。 官歷琅邪內史、東陽太守。 質子湛。
Zhi bore the courtesy name Daohe. Five generations from Yuan Huan through Zhi maintained sober virtue—only Dan stood out for swagger. Zhi himself earned renown for filial devotion. He governed Langye interior commandery and Dongyang prefecture. His heir was Zhan.
35
質子湛
Yuan Zhan, Zhi’s son.
36
質子湛
Yuan Zhan.
37
湛字士深。 少有操植，以沖粹自立，而無文華，故不為流俗所重。 時謝混為僕射，范泰贈湛及混詩云：「亦有後出雋，離群頗騫翥。」 湛恨而不答。 自中書令為僕射、左光祿大夫、晉甯男，卒於官。 湛弟豹。
Zhan used the courtesy name Shishen. Even young he cultivated restraint and sober virtue rather than polish, so fashionable circles overlooked him. While Xie Hun served as vice director Fan Tai gifted them verse praising “later luminaries who rise above the herd.” Zhan took offense and stayed silent. He moved from palace director to vice director, grand master of the left, and baron of Jinning—dying in harness. His younger brother was Bao.
38
湛弟豹
Yuan Bao, brother of Zhan.
39
湛弟豹
Yuan Bao.
40
豹字士蔚，博學善文辭，有經國材，為劉裕所知。 後為太尉長史、丹陽尹，卒。
Yuan Bao, courtesy Shiwei, wrote well, knew the classics, showed administrative gifts, and impressed Liu Yu. He later served as chief of staff to the grand commandant and governor of Danyang, then died in office.
41
江逌
Jiang You
42
江逌，字道載，陳留圉人也。 曾祖蕤，譙郡太守。 祖允，蕪湖令。 父濟，安東參軍。 逌少孤，與從弟灌共居，甚相友悌，由是獲當時之譽。 避蘇峻之亂，屏居臨海，絕棄人事，翦茅結宇，耽玩載籍，有終焉之志。 本州辟從事，除佐著作郎，並不就。 征北將軍蔡謨命為參軍，何充復引為驃騎功曹。 以家貧，求試守，為太末令。 縣界深山中，有亡命數百家，恃險為阻，前後守宰莫能平。 逌到官，召其魁帥，厚加撫接，諭以禍福，旬月之間，繈負而至，朝廷嘉之。 州檄為治中，轉別駕，遷吳令。
Jiang You, courtesy Daozai, came from Yu county in Chenliu. His great-grandfather Jiang Rui governed Qiao commandery. His grandfather Yun had been Wuhu county magistrate. His father Ji served on the staff of the eastern pacification general. Orphaned early, he lived with cousin Jiang Guan in harmony and earned a reputation for fraternal devotion. When Su Jun threw the realm into chaos he withdrew to Linhai, shut out politics, built a thatched study, buried himself in texts, and meant to finish his life there. The province tried to hire him as aide and the court named him editorial assistant—he refused both. Cai Mo took him as military adviser; He Chong later added him as merit clerk on the cavalry staff. Pressed by poverty he sought an acting post and became magistrate of Taiwei. Hundreds of outlaws held the mountain fastnesses—prefect after prefect failed to subdue them. You called in the bandit leaders, treated them generously, explained consequences, and within weeks families surrendered on his doorstep—the court commended him. He rose from provincial clerk to aide and then prefect of Wu county.
43
中軍將軍殷浩將謀北伐，請為諮議參軍。 浩甚重之，遷長史。 浩方修復洛陽，經營荒梗，逌為上佐，甚有匡弼之益，軍中書檄皆以委逌。 時羌及丁零叛，浩軍震懼。 姚襄去浩十里結營以逼浩，浩令逌擊之。 逌進兵至襄營，謂將校曰：「今兵非不精，而衆少於羌，且其塹柵甚固，難與校力，吾當以計破之。」 乃取數百雞以長繩連之，繫火於足。 群雞駭散，飛集襄營。 襄營火發，其亂，隨而擊之，襄遂小敗。 及桓溫奏廢浩佐吏，遂免。 頃之，除中書郎。 升平中，遷吏部郎，長兼侍中。
When Yin Hao prepared to march north he asked You to join his staff as adviser. Yin Hao valued him and moved him up to chief clerk. While Yin Hao rebuilt Luoyang from ruins You served as chief clerk with decisive help—every order and dispatch passed through him. When Qiang and Dingling auxiliaries mutinied Yin Hao’s army panicked. Yao Xiang pitched camp ten li away to pin Yin Hao; Hao sent You to attack. Jiang You advanced on Yao Xiang’s camp and told his officers, “We are outnumbered and their earthworks are strong—a frontal contest will not serve; I must beat them by stratagem.” He tied torches to hundreds of chickens on long cords. The terrified birds bolted into Yao Xiang’s camp. Flames erupted in the enemy camp; You charged into the chaos and handed Yao Xiang a partial defeat. Huan Wen purged Yin Hao’s staff and You lost his post. Soon he became a gentleman of the palace writers. Under Shengping he advanced to the Ministry of Personnel and served concurrently as palace attendant.
44
穆帝將修後池，起閣道，逌上疏曰：
When Emperor Mu planned to enlarge the rear pond and raise a covered walkway You addressed the throne:
45
帝嘉其言而止。 復領本州大中正。 升平末，遷太常，逌累讓，不許。
The emperor accepted his advice and dropped the project. He resumed duty as senior locator for his home province. Late in Shengping he became chamberlain for ceremonial rites—he tried to refuse repeatedly but the court insisted.
46
穆帝崩，山陵將用寶器，諫曰：「以宣皇顧命終制，山陵不設明器，以貽後則。 景帝奉遵遺制。 逮文明皇后崩，武皇帝亦承前制，無所施設，惟脯脩之奠，瓦器而已。 昔康皇帝玄宮始用寶劍金舄，此蓋太妃罔已之情，實違先旨累世之法。 今外欲以為故事，臣請述先旨，停此二物。」 書奏，從之。
After Emperor Mu died ministers wanted rich tomb goods; You argued that Emperor Xuan’s dying instructions forbade lavish grave offerings meant to set precedent. Emperor Jing obeyed that legacy. When Empress Wenming passed away Emperor Wu likewise kept things austere—only dried meat and pottery vessels at the tomb. Emperor Kang’s burial first introduced jeweled blades and gold slippers—emotion overrode precedent and broke generations of restraint. Now officials want that excess as routine—You asked to reaffirm older restraint and ban both items. The throne agreed.
47
哀帝以天文失度，欲依《尚書》洪祀之制，於太極前殿親執虔肅，冀以免咎，使太常集博士草其制。 逌上疏諫曰：
Emperor Ai blamed heaven’s omens and wanted the Hong sacrifice from the 《Documents》 performed in the Taiji Hall—he would stand vigil himself—and told the Chamberlain for Ceremonial to draft rites with the boshi scholars. You filed a counter-memorial:
48
帝不納，逌又上疏曰：
The emperor brushed him off; You wrote again:
49
帝猶敕撰定，逌又陳古義，帝乃止。 逌在職多所匡諫。 著《阮籍序贊》、《逸士箴》及詩賦奏議數十篇行於世。 病卒，時年五十八。 子蔚，吳興太守。
The emperor still pressed for a codified rite until You cited classical precedent again and he gave up. Throughout his tenure he remonstrated freely. He wrote essays such as 《Preface and Encomium for Ruan Ji》 and 《Admonition for Recluses》, plus dozens of poems, rhapsodies, and memorials that circulated widely. He died of illness at fifty-eight. His son Jiang Wei governed Wuxing.
50
從弟灌
Jiang Guan, You’s younger cousin.
51
從弟灌
Jiang Guan.
52
灌字道群。 父瞢，尚書郎。 灌少知名，才識亞於逌。 州辟主簿，舉秀才，為治中，轉別駕，歷司徒屬、北中郎中長史，領晉陵太守。 簡文帝引為撫軍從事中郎，後遷吏部郎。 時謝奕為尚書，銓敘不允，灌每執正不從，奕托以他事免之，受黜無怨色。 頃之，簡文帝又以為撫軍司馬，甚相賓禮。 遷御史中丞，轉吳興太守。 灌性方正，視權貴蔑如也，為大司馬桓溫所惡。 溫欲中傷之，徵拜侍中，以在郡時公事有失，追免之。 後為秘書監，尋復解職。 時溫方執權，朝廷希旨，故灌積年不調。 溫末年，以為諮議參軍。 會溫薨，遷尚書、中護軍，復出為吳郡太守，加秩中二千石，未拜，卒。 子績。
Guan used the courtesy name Daoqun. His father Meng once served as a gentleman clerk in the secretariat. Guan won notice early—second only to Jiang You in reputation. He rose from provincial recorder and aide to posts under the minister of education and chief clerk of the northern palace section, doubling as Jinling prefect. Emperor Jianwen named him senior attendant on the pacification staff; he later joined the Ministry of Personnel. When Xie Yi ran personnel assignments unfairly Guan held the line—Yi cashiered him on a pretext, but Guan accepted it without complaint. Soon Emperor Jianwen made him marshal of the pacification army and honored him lavishly. He advanced to imperial censor then prefect of Wuxing. Upright to a fault, Guan snubbed power brokers—Huan Wen detested him. Huan Wen tried to trap him—summoned him as palace attendant, then dredged up prefectural paperwork to dismiss him. He briefly headed the palace library then stepped down. With Huan Wen dominating court appointments Guan languished without a new post. Late in life Huan Wen relented and named him staff adviser. After Huan Wen died Guan climbed to minister and Defender of the Center, returned as Wu prefect with top salary—and died before the seal arrived. His heir was Jiang Ji.
53
灌子績
Jiang Ji, Guan’s son.
54
灌子績
Jiang Ji.
55
績字仲元，有志氣，除秘書郎。 以父與謝氏不穆，故謝安之世辟召無所從，論者多之。 安薨，始為會稽王道子驃騎主簿，多所規諫。 歷諮議參軍，出為南郡相。 會荊州刺史殷仲堪舉兵以應王恭，仲堪要績與南蠻校尉殷顗同行，並不從。 仲堪等屢以為言，績終不為之屈。 顗慮績及禍，乃于仲堪坐和解之。 績曰：「大丈夫何至以死相脅！ 江仲元行年六十，但未知獲死所耳。」 一坐為之懼。 仲堪憚其堅正，以楊佺期代之。 朝廷聞而征績為御史中丞，奏劾無所屈撓。 會稽世子元顯專政，夜開六門，績密啟會稽王道子，欲以奏聞，道子不許。 車胤亦曰：「元顯驕縱，宜禁制之。」 道子默然。 元顯聞而謂衆曰：「江績、車胤間我父子。」 遣人密讓之。 俄而績卒，朝野悼之。
Ji bore the courtesy name Zhongyuan, showed backbone, and became a palace secretary. His father’s feud with the Xie meant Ji ignored every summons while Xie An lived—opinion admired his stance. Once Xie An died he joined Prince Daozi of Kuaiji as cavalry chief clerk and spoke truth to power. He advised princes and then governed Nan commandery. When Yin Zhongkan mobilized to support Wang Gong he insisted Ji travel with Yin Yi—both men refused. Yin Zhongkan kept demanding; Ji never bent. Yin Yi feared bloodshed and mediated at Zhongkan’s banquet. Ji snapped, “Must a gentleman threaten death? Jiang Zhongyuan is sixty—I only wonder where I shall fall.” The table fell silent in dread. Zhongkan, unnerved by his steel, swapped him for Yang Quanqi. The court recalled him as censor—his indictments showed no favor. When Prince Yuanxian of Kuaiji seized power and opened the six palace gates at night Ji secretly urged Prince Daozi to report it—Daozi refused. Che Yin added, “Yuanxian’s arrogance must be curbed.” Daozi said nothing. Yuanxian heard and announced, “Jiang Ji and Che Yin are splitting my father and me.” He sent agents to reprimand them quietly. Ji died soon after; capital and countryside mourned.
56
車胤
Che Yin
57
車胤，字武子，南平人也。 曾祖浚，吳會稽太守。 父育，郡主簿。 太守王胡之名知人，見胤于童幼之中，謂胤父曰：「此兒當大興卿門，可使專學。」 胤恭勤不倦，博學多通。 家貧不常得油，夏月則練囊盛數十螢火以照書，以夜繼日焉。 及長，風姿美劭，機悟敏速，甚有鄉曲之譽。 桓溫在荊州，辟為從事，以辯識義理深重之。 引為主簿，稍遷別駕、征西長史，遂顯於朝廷。 時惟胤與吳隱之以寒素博學知名於世。 又善於賞會，當時每有盛坐而胤不在，皆云：「無車公不樂。」 謝安遊集之日，輒開筵待之。
Che Yin, courtesy Wuzi, hailed from Nanping. His great-grandfather Jun governed Kuaiji under Wu. His father Yu served as county recorder. Prefect Wang Huzhi sized him up in the schoolyard and told his father, “This child will glorify your line—let him study.” Che Yin studied tirelessly and mastered many disciplines. Too poor for lamp oil, he stuffed fireflies in a silk bag to read by night—the famous “firefly glow” diligence. Grown handsome and sharp, he won wide local fame. Huan Wen in Jingzhou hired him as aide and prized his grasp of principle. He rose from chief clerk to provincial aide and western campaign chief clerk—then made his name at court. Only Che Yin and Wu Yinzhi were celebrated for rising from cold households through scholarship. He hosted surpassingly well—guests swore no feast sparkled without “Lord Che.” Whenever Xie An entertained he saved a seat for Che Yin.
58
甯康初，以胤為中書侍郎、關內侯。 孝武帝嘗講《孝經》，僕射謝安侍坐，尚書陸納侍講，侍中卞眈執讀，黃門侍郎謝石、吏部郎袁宏執經，胤與丹陽尹王混擿句，時論榮之。 累遷侍中。 太元中，增置太學生百人，以胤領國子博士。 其後年，議郊廟明堂之事，胤以「明堂之制既甚難詳，且樂主於和，禮主於敬，故質文不同，音器亦殊。 既茅茨廣廈不一其度，何必守其形範而不弘本順時乎！ 九服咸寧，四野無塵，然後明堂辟雍可光而修之。」 時從其議。 又遷驃騎長史、太常，進爵臨湘侯，以疾去職。 俄為護軍將軍。 時王國寶諂于會稽王道子，諷八坐啟以道子為丞相，加殊禮。 胤曰：「此乃成王所以尊周公也。 今主上當陽，非成王之地，相王在位，豈得為周公乎！ 望實二三，並不宜爾，必大忤上意。」 乃稱疾不署其事。 疏奏，帝大怒，而甚嘉胤。
Early in Ningkang he became palace secretary and marquis within the passes. When Emperor Xiaowu expounded the 《Classic of Filial Piety》, Xie An, Lu Na, Bian Dan, Xie Shi, Yuan Hong, Che Yin, and Wang Hun each played a ceremonial role—the age deemed it glory. He advanced stepwise to palace attendant. Under Taiyuan the academy added a hundred students and named Yin their doctoral libationer. Next year, arguing suburban rites and the Bright Hall, Che Yin began: “Bright Hall layout is notoriously elusive; music pursues harmony, ritual pursues reverence, so form and ornament diverge and bells and vessels cannot match. Thatched cottages and marble halls follow different scales—why fetishize shape rather than grasp the essence and move with the times? Wait until the realm is quiet and dust-free across the frontiers—then you may splendidly rebuild Bright Hall and the royal academy.” The court adopted his view. He rose to cavalry chief clerk and chamberlain for rites, became marquis of Linxiang, then resigned ill. Soon he commanded the Defender-in-Chief army. Wang Guobao curried favor with Prince Daozi of Kuaiji and coached the Eight Seats to ask that Daozi become chancellor with superlative ceremony. Che Yin replied, “Such honors fit how the young king deferred to the Duke of Zhou. Our emperor sits openly on the throne—not a minor regency—and the prince regent is no Duke of Zhou. Neither prestige nor substance warrants this—it will only insult the emperor. He feigned sickness and withheld his signature. The emperor raged at the proposal but applauded Che Yin.
59
隆安初，為吳興太守，秩中二千石，辭疾不拜。 加輔國將軍、丹陽尹。 頃之，遷吏部尚書。 元顯有過，胤與江績密言于道子，將奏之，事泄，元顯逼令自裁。 俄而胤卒，朝廷傷之。
Early in Longan they named him Wuxing prefect at top salary—he pleaded illness and refused. They added titles as supporting-state general and Danyang prefect. Soon he headed the Ministry of Personnel. When Yuanxian misbehaved Che Yin and Jiang Ji whispered to Daozi about impeachment—word slipped out and Yuanxian drove Che Yin to suicide. Che Yin died shortly after; the court grieved.
60
殷顗
Yin Yi
61
殷顗，字伯通，陳郡人也。 祖融，太常卿。 父康，吳興太守。 顗性通率，有才氣，少與從弟仲堪俱知名。 太元中，以中書郎擢為南蠻校尉。 蒞職清明，政績肅舉。 及仲堪得王恭書，將興兵內伐，告顗，欲同舉。 顗不平之，曰：「夫人臣之義，慎保所守。 朝廷是非，宰輔之務，豈籓屏之所圖也。 晉陽之事，宜所不豫。」 仲堪要之轉切，顗怒曰：「吾進不敢同，退不敢異。」 仲堪以為恨。 猶密諫仲堪，辭甚切至。 仲堪既貴，素情亦殊，而志望無厭，謂顗言為非。 顗見江績亦以正直為仲堪所斥，知仲堪當逐異己，樹置所親，因出行散，托疾不還。 仲堪聞其病，出省之，謂顗曰：「兄病殊為可憂。」 顗曰：「我病不過身死，但汝病在滅門，幸熟為慮，勿以我為念也。」 仲堪不從，卒與楊佺期、桓玄同下。 顗遂以憂卒。 隆安中，詔曰：「故南蠻校尉殷顗忠績未融，奄焉隕喪，可贈冠軍將軍。」 弟仲文、叔獻別有傳。
Yin Yi, courtesy Botong, came from Chen commandery. His ancestor Yin Rong led the Chamberlain’s office. His father Kang governed Wuxing. Yi was open-hearted and gifted—celebrated alongside cousin Yin Zhongkan in youth. Under Taiyuan he jumped from palace secretary to southern tribes colonel. His rule stayed clean and crisp. When Zhongkan got Wang Gong’s letter plotting an attack on the capital he told Yi and wanted joint action. Yi bridled: “Ministers must guard their posts. Court disputes belong to the chief ministers—not frontier intendants. “Jinyang-style” coups are none of your business. Zhongkan doubled down; Yi snapped, “I will neither march with you nor scheme against you.” Zhongkan never forgave him. Yi still slipped Zhongkan urgent secret warnings. Power changed Zhongkan—his appetite grew and he dismissed Yi’s counsel. Watching Jiang Ji cashiered for honesty Yi knew Zhongkan would purge outsiders—he left on “walking powder,” claimed illness, and stayed away. Zhongkan visited his sickbed and said, “Brother, this sickness frightens me.” Yi answered, “My worst is death; yours is clan extinction—think about yourself, not me.” Zhongkan ignored him and marched east with Yang Quanqi and Huan Xuan. Yi died of sorrow. A Longan edict mourned Colonel Yin Yi—loyalty cut short—and posthumously named him champion general. His brothers Yin Zhongwen and Yin Shuxian appear elsewhere.
62
王雅
Wang Ya
63
王雅，字茂達，東海郯人，魏衛將軍肅之曾孫也。 祖隆，後將軍。 父景，大鴻臚。 雅少知名，州檄主簿，舉秀才，除郎中，出補永興令，以幹理著稱。 累遷尚書左右丞，歷廷尉、侍中、左衛將軍、丹陽尹，領太子左衛率。 雅性好接下，敬慎奉公，孝武帝深加禮遇，雖在外職，侍見甚數，朝廷大事多參謀議。 帝每置酒宴集，雅未至，不先舉觴，其見重如此。 然任遇有過其才，時人被以佞幸之目。 帝起清暑殿于後宮，開北上閣，出華林園，與美人張氏同遊止，惟雅與焉。
Wang Ya, courtesy Maoda, came from Tan in Donghai—descended from Wang Su, Wei’s guard-general of the right. His grandfather Long commanded the rear army. His father Jing served as grand herald. Wang Ya rose early—provincial aide, examination graduate, gentleman, Yongxing magistrate—with a reputation for competence. He climbed to assistant ministers of the secretariat, commandant of justice, palace attendant, general guarding the left, Danyang prefect, plus commander of the heir’s left guard. Wang Ya welcomed junior officers, served carefully, and enjoyed Emperor Xiaowu’s trust—despite outside duties he advised constantly on state matters. At every banquet the emperor waited for Wang Ya before drinking—such was his standing. Yet rewards outstripped ability—critics called him a court favorite. The emperor built Cool Summer Palace, opened a back gate into Hualin Garden, and toured with Lady Zhang—only Wang Ya joined.
64
會稽王道子領太子太傅，以雅為太子少傅。 時王珣兒婚，賓客車騎甚衆，會聞雅拜少傅，回詣雅者過半。 時風俗頹弊，無復廉恥。 然少傅之任，朝望屬珣，珣亦頗以自幸。 及中詔用雅，衆遂赴雅焉。 將拜，遇雨，請以傘入。 王珣不許之，因冒雨而拜。 雅既貴幸，威權甚震，門下車騎常數百，而善應接，傾心禮之。
Prince Daozi of Kuaiji led the heir’s tutorship and named Wang Ya junior tutor. During Wang Xun’s son’s wedding crowds jammed the roads—but half wheeled away once Wang Ya’s junior tutor appointment broke. Manners had rotted beyond embarrassment. Everyone had expected Wang Xun to win the post—and Xun counted on it. When the edict picked Wang Ya the crowd rushed to him. Rain soaked investiture day; he asked to carry an umbrella indoors. Wang Xun refused—Wang Ya took the ritual soaked to the skin. Power swelled his salon to hundreds of carriages—yet he greeted each petitioner graciously.
65
帝以道子無社稷器幹，慮晏駕之後皇室傾危，乃選時望以為籓屏，將擢王恭、殷仲堪等，先以訪雅。 雅以恭等無當世之才，不可大任，從容曰：「王恭風神簡貴，志氣方嚴，既居外戚之重，當親賢之寄，然其稟性峻隘，無所苞容，執自是之操，無守節之志。 仲堪雖謹於細行，以文義著稱，亦無弘量，且幹略不長。 若委以連率之重，據形勝之地，今四海無事，足能守職，若道不常隆，必為亂階矣。」 帝以恭等為當時秀望，謂雅疾其勝己，故不從。 二人皆被升用，其後竟敗，有識之士稱其知人。
Fearing Prince Daozi too weak to guard the dynasty, Emperor Xiaowu picked reputable buffers—Wang Gong, Yin Zhongkan—and asked Wang Ya first. Wang Ya thought them unfit: “Wang Gong looks noble and acts severe—as imperial in-law he shoulders heavy trust—yet he is cramped, unforgiving, stubborn, and unreliable. Zhongkan fusses petty detail and literary fame yet lacks breadth or strategic depth. Give them frontier supremacy while peace lasts they might cope—if fortune falters they become rebellion itself.” The emperor thought Wang Gong’s circle the best of the age and assumed Wang Ya jealous—so he ignored him. Both rose—and later fell—while wise men credited Wang Ya’s insight.
66
遷領軍、尚書、散騎常侍，方大崇進之，將參副相之重，而帝崩，倉卒不獲顧命。 雅素被優遇，一旦失權，又以朝廷方亂，內外攜離，但慎默而已，無所辯正。 雖在孝武世，亦不能犯顏廷爭，凡所謀謨，唯唯而已。 尋遷左僕射。 卒，時年六十七。 追贈光祿大夫、儀同三司。
He neared minister and defender posts—then the emperor died suddenly without naming him regent. Long favored, Wang Ya lost leverage overnight as chaos split court—he stayed mute. Even under Xiaowu he rarely debated openly—always nodding yes. Soon he became left vice director. He died at sixty-seven. Posthumously named grand master of brilliant splendor with honors matching the Three Ducal Ministers.
67
長子准之，散騎侍郎。 次協之，黃門。 次少卿，侍中。 並有士操，立名於世云。
His eldest Zhunzhi served as palace presenter. Second son Xiezhi worked the Yellow Gate. Third son Shaoqing became palace attendant. All kept gentlemanly reputations.
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史評
Historians’ commentary
69
史臣曰：爰在中興，玄風滋扇，溺王綱於拱默，撓國步於清虛，骨鯁蹇諤之風蓋亦微矣。 而君孝固情禮而違顯命，山甫獻誠讜而振頹風，彥叔之兵謀，道載之正諫，洋洋盈耳，有足可稱。 灌不屈節於權臣，績敢危言於賊將，道子殊物之禮，車胤沮之無懼心，仲堪反常之舉，殷顗折之以正色，求諸古烈，何以加焉！ 山松悅哀挽於軒冕之辰，彥道歡博徒於衰絰之日，天心已喪，其能濟乎！ 旋及於促齡，俄致於非命，宜哉！
The historian writes: Under the restored court “dark learning” numbed government—honest criticism nearly vanished. Still Gu He defied summons for mourning’s sake; Yuan Mei stirred Confucian schools; Yuan Qiao planned campaigns; Jiang You spoke plain truth—all merit praise. Jiang Guan refused cronies; Jiang Ji defied warlords; Che Yin thwarted Daozi’s excess; Yin Yi stared down Zhongkan—few ancients outdid them. Yuan Shansong sang dirges in silk hats; Yuan Dan diced in mourning clothes—hearts were dead—how expect salvation? They died young or violently—justice enough.
70
贊曰：顧生軌物，屢申誠讜。 袁子崇儒，拯斯頹喪。 逌績剛蹇，車殷忠壯。 睠言遺直，莫之能尚。
Verse praise: Gu He set standards and spoke truth. Yuan Mei upheld Confucius against collapse. Jiang You and Jiang Ji stood firm; Che Yin and Yin Yi showed courage. Remembering such upright survivors, none rank higher.