1
耶律庶成 〈(庶箴蒲魯)〉 楊皙耶律韓留楊佶耶律和尚
Yelu Shucheng (Shuzhen and Pulu)]〉 Yang Xi, Yelu Hanliu, Yang Ji, and Yelu Heshang
2
耶律庶成,字喜隱,小字陳六,季父房之後。 父吳九,檢校太師。 庶成幼好學,書過目不忘。 善遼、漢文字,於詩尤工。 重熙初,補牌印郎君,累遷樞密直學士。 與蕭韓家奴各進《四時逸樂賦》,帝嗟賞。 初,契丹醫人鮮知切脈審藥,上命庶成譯方脈書行之,自是人皆通習,雖諸部族亦知醫事。 時入禁中,參決疑議。 偕林牙蕭韓家奴等撰《實錄》及《禮書》。 與樞密副使蕭德修定法令,上詔庶成曰:「方今法令輕重不倫。 法令者,為政所先,人命所系,不可不慎。 卿其審度輕重,從宜修定。」 庶成參酌古今,刊正訛謬,成書以進。 帝覽而善之。 庶成方進用,為妻胡篤所誣,以罪奪官,絀為「庶耶律」。 使吐蕃凡十二年,清寧間始歸。 帝知其誣,詔復本族,仍遷所奪官,卒。
Yelu Shucheng, whose style name was Xiyin and childhood name Chenliu, came from the Shufu branch of the imperial clan. His father Wu Jiu held the honorary title of Grand Preceptor. From childhood Shucheng loved learning and never forgot a book after a single reading. He was adept in both Khitan and Chinese writing and was especially accomplished in poetry. Early in the Chongxi reign he entered service as a Seal and Patent Attendant and rose through successive appointments to Academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs. He and Xiao Hanjianu each submitted Rhapsodies on Leisure through the Four Seasons, which the emperor received with warm admiration. At first Khitan physicians seldom knew pulse diagnosis or how to judge medicines. The emperor ordered Shucheng to translate works on pulse lore and put them into practice, after which the art became widely known, and even the tribal peoples learned medical practice. He was regularly summoned into the inner palace to help settle doubtful matters. Together with Grand Preceptor Xiao Hanjianu and others, he compiled the Veritable Records and the Book of Rites. Working with Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs Xiao Dexiu, he revised the statutes. The emperor addressed Shucheng: "At present the penalties in our statutes are inconsistent in severity. Statutes come first in government and bind human lives; they must be handled with the utmost care. Weigh severity and leniency and revise them as you see fit. Shucheng drew on past and present models, corrected errors, completed the work, and submitted it to the throne. The emperor read it and expressed his approval. Just as Shucheng was coming into high favor, his wife Hu Du slandered him; he was stripped of office for a crime and reduced in clan rank to the humiliating designation "Commoner Yelu." He was posted to Tibet for twelve years and did not return until the Qingning reign. The emperor knew he had been wronged, ordered his clan status restored, reinstated the offices that had been stripped from him, and shortly afterward he died.
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庶成嘗為林牙,夢善卜者胡呂古卜曰:「官止林牙,因妻得罪。」 及置於理,法當離婚。 胡篤適有娠,至期不產而死。 剖視之,其子以手抱心,識者謂誣夫之報。 有詩文行於世。 弟庶箴。
While serving as Grand Preceptor, Shucheng dreamed that the skilled diviner Hu Lugu told his fortune: "Your rank will go no higher than Grand Preceptor, and you will fall because of your wife. When the case was brought to judgment, the law required divorce. Hu Du happened to be pregnant, but when her term came she failed to deliver and died. On dissection the child was found clutching its own heart in its hands, which observers took as retribution for her false accusation against her husband. His poetry and prose circulated widely. His younger brother was Shuzhen.
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蒲魯,字乃展。 幼聰悟好學,甫七歲,能誦契丹大字。 習漢文,未十年,博通經籍。 重熙中,舉進士第。 主文以國制無契丹試進士之條,聞於上,以庶箴擅令子就科目,鞭之二百。 尋命莆魯為牌印郎君。 應詔賦詩,立成以進。 帝嘉賞,顧左右曰:「文才如此,必不能武事。」 蒲魯奏曰:「臣自蒙義方,兼習騎射,在流輩中亦可周旋。」 帝未之信。 會從獵,三矢中三兔,帝奇之,轉通進。 是時,父庶箴嘗寄《戒諭詩》,蒲魯答以賦,眾稱其典雅。 寵遇漸隆。 清寧初卒。 楊皙,字昌時,安次人。 幼通《五經》大義。 聖宗聞其穎悟,詔試講,授秘書省校書郎。 太平十一年,擢進士乙科,為著作佐郎。 重熙十二年,累遷樞密都承旨,權度支使。 登對稱旨,進樞密副使。 歷長寧軍節度使,山西路轉運使,知興中府。 清寧初,入知南院樞密使,與姚景行同總朝政。 請行柴冊禮。 封趙國公。 以足疾,復知興中府。 咸雍初,徙封齊,召賜同德功臣、尚書左僕射,兼中書令,拜樞密使,改封晉,給宰相、樞密使兩廳傔從,封趙王。 屢請歸政,益賜保節功臣,致仕。 大康五年,例改遼西郡王,薨。
Pulu, whose style name was Naizhan, was clever and studious from childhood; at only seven he could recite the great Khitan script. He studied Chinese writing and within less than ten years had mastered the classical canon. During the Chongxi reign he passed the jinshi examination. The chief examiner reported to the throne that national law contained no provision for Khitans to sit the jinshi examination. Shuzhen was judged to have presumptuously placed his son in the examination and was given two hundred strokes of the whip. Soon afterward Pulu was appointed Seal and Patent Attendant. When called upon to compose verse at imperial command, he finished a poem on the spot and presented it. The emperor was delighted and remarked to his attendants, "With literary talent like this, he surely cannot be skilled in arms. Pulu replied, "Your servant has been properly instructed from youth and has also trained in riding and archery; among my peers I can still hold my own." The emperor was not yet convinced. Once on a hunt he brought down three hares with three arrows. The emperor was astonished and promoted him to Tongjin. About that time his father Shuzhen sent him an admonitory poem, to which Pulu replied with a rhapsody that everyone praised for its refinement. Imperial favor toward him steadily increased. He died early in the Qingning reign. Yang Xi, whose style name was Changshi, was a native of Anci. From childhood he grasped the essential meaning of the Five Classics. When Emperor Shengzong heard of his exceptional intelligence, he ordered a trial lecture and appointed him Collator of the Secretariat. In the eleventh year of the Taiping era he passed the jinshi examination in the second class and was appointed Assistant Gentleman for Compilation. In the twelfth year of Chongxi he rose through successive appointments to Chief Secretariat Attendant of the Bureau of Military Affairs and Acting Commissioner of Revenue. His answers in audience pleased the emperor, and he was promoted to Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. He served as military governor of Changning Circuit, transport commissioner of the Shanxi Route, and prefect of Xingzhong. Early in Qingning he entered court service as Commissioner of the Southern Bureau of Military Affairs and, together with Yao Jingxing, directed the government. He petitioned for the performance of the firewood-register enthronement rite. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Zhao. Because of a foot ailment he returned to serve as prefect of Xingzhong. Early in Xianyong his fief was transferred to Qi. Summoned to court, he received the title Meritous Minister of Shared Virtue, was made Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs with concurrent appointment as Central Secretariat Director, and was appointed Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. His fief was then changed to Jin, he was granted the attendants allotted to both the chancellor's and the commissioner's offices, and he was enfeoffed as Prince of Zhao. He repeatedly asked to retire from government, was further granted the title Meritous Minister Who Preserves Integrity, and left office. In the fifth year of Dakang his title was changed by precedent to Prince of Liaoxi Commandery, and he died.
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楊佶,字正叔,南京人。 幼穎悟異常,讀書自能成句,識者奇之。 弱冠,聲名籍甚。 統和二十四年,舉進士第一,歷校書郎、大理正。 開泰六年,轉儀曹郎,典掌書命,加諫議大夫。 出知易州,治尚清簡,征發期會必信。 入為大理少卿。 累遷翰林學士,文章號得體。 八年,燕地饑疫,民多流殍,以佶同知南京留守事,發倉廩,振乏絕,貧民鬻子者計傭而出之。 宋遣梅詢賀千齡節,詔佶迎送,多唱酬,詢每見稱賞。 復為翰林學士。 重熙元年,升翰林學士承旨。 丁母憂,起復工部尚書。 歷忠順軍節度使,朔武等州觀察處置使,天德軍節度使,加特進檢校太師、同中書門下平章事,復拜參知政事,兼知南院樞密使。 十五年,出為武定軍節度使。 境內亢旱,苗稼將槁。 視事之夕,雨澤沾足。 百姓歌曰:「何以蘇我? 上天降雨。 誰其撫我? 楊公為主。」 漯陽水失故道,歲為民害,乃以己俸創長橋,人不病涉。 及被召,郡民攀轅泣送。 上御清涼殿宴勞之,即日除吏部尚書,兼門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 上曰:「卿今日何減呂望之遇文王!」 佶對曰:「呂望比臣遭際有十年之晚。」 上悅。 其居相位,以進賢為己任,事總大綱,責成百司,人人樂為之用。 三請致政,許之,月給錢粟傔隸,四時遣使存問。 卒。 有《登瀛集》行於世。
Yang Ji, whose style name was Zhengshu, was a native of Nanjing. As a child his intelligence was extraordinary: when he read he could compose sentences on his own, and observers regarded him as remarkable. By the time he came of age his reputation was already widespread. In the twenty-fourth year of Tonghe he placed first in the jinshi examination and served successively as collator and director of the Court of Judicial Review. In the sixth year of Kaitai he was transferred to Gentleman of the Bureau of Rites, placed in charge of written commands, and given the additional title Remonstrating Grand Master. Posted as prefect of Yizhou, he governed with clarity and restraint, and in levies and scheduled deliveries he was always reliable. He was recalled to the capital as vice director of the Court of Judicial Review. He rose through successive appointments to Hanlin Academician, and his writings were praised as always apt in tone. In the eighth year famine and pestilence struck the Yan region, and many people died wandering in destitution. Ji was appointed associate administrator of the Nanjing garrison, opened the granaries, and relieved the needy; for poor families who had sold their children, he calculated wages so they could be redeemed. When Song sent Mei Xun to congratulate the Thousand-Year Festival, the emperor ordered Ji to receive and escort him. They exchanged many poems in correspondence, and Mei repeatedly praised him in their meetings. He was again appointed Hanlin Academician. In the first year of Chongxi he was promoted to chief Hanlin Academician. After his mother's death he entered mourning, but was soon recalled to serve as Minister of Works. He served as military governor of Zhongshun Circuit, commissioner for observation and disposition of Shuowu and other prefectures, and military governor of the Tiande Army. He received the additional titles Special Advanced Grand Master and Acting Grand Preceptor with the title associate grand councilor, was again appointed participant in governance, and concurrently served as commissioner of the Southern Bureau of Military Affairs. In the fifteenth year he was posted as military governor of Wuding Circuit. His jurisdiction suffered severe drought, and the crops were on the verge of withering. On the evening he assumed office, rain fell in abundance. The people sang, "How shall we be revived? Heaven sends rain. Who will care for us? Lord Yang is our lord. The Luoyang River had left its old channel and each year brought harm to the people, so he used his own salary to build a long bridge, sparing travelers the hardship of crossing. When he was recalled to court, the people of the commandery clung to his carriage and wept as they bade him farewell. The emperor entertained him in the Qingliang Hall to honor his service and that same day appointed him Minister of Personnel with concurrent posts as vice director of the Gate Department and associate grand councilor. The emperor said, "How is the favor shown you today any less than what Lü Wang received from King Wen! Ji replied, "Compared with me, Lü Wang met his opportunity a full ten years too late." The emperor was delighted. In office as chancellor he made advancing worthy men his chief duty, kept to the broad outlines of policy, held every office accountable, and all were glad to serve under him. He asked three times to retire from government and was permitted to do so, receiving monthly stipends of money, grain, and attendants, with envoys sent in every season to inquire after his welfare. He died. His collection Ascending to the Immortal Isles circulated widely.
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耶律和尚,字特抹,系出季父房。 善滑稽。 重熙初,補祗候郎君。 時帝篤於親親,凡三父之後,皆序父兄行第,於和尚尤狎愛。 然每侍宴飲,雖詼諧,未嘗有一言之過,由是上益重之。 歷積慶、永興宮使,累遷至同知南院宣徽使事、南面林牙。 十六年,出為懷化軍節度使,俄召為御史大夫。 二十三年,因大冊,加天平軍節度使、檢校太師,徙中京路按問使,卒。
Yelu Heshang, whose style name was Temuo, came from the Shufu branch of the imperial clan. He was skilled in witty and humorous speech. Early in the Chongxi reign he entered service as an attendant in waiting. The emperor was then deeply devoted to his kinsmen; all descendants of the three paternal uncles were ranked by paternal generation, and he was especially intimate and affectionate toward Heshang. Yet whenever he attended banquets, though playful in manner, he never let a single improper word slip, and for this the emperor esteemed him all the more. He served as commissioner of the Jiqing and Yongxing Palaces and rose through successive appointments to associate commissioner of the Southern Bureau of the Palace Secretariat and grand preceptor of the Southern Court. In the sixteenth year he was posted as military governor of Huaihua Circuit and was soon recalled as censor-in-chief. In the twenty-third year, on the occasion of the great enfeoffment, he received the additional titles military governor of Tianping Circuit and acting grand preceptor, was transferred to investigation commissioner of the Zhongjing Route, and died.
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和尚雅有美行,數以財恤親友,人皆愛重。 然嗜酒不事事,以故不獲柄用。 或以為言,答曰:「吾非不知,顧人生如風燈石火,不飲將何為?」 晚年沈湎尤甚,人稱為「酒仙」云。
Heshang was known for his fine character and often used his wealth to help kinsmen and friends; everyone loved and respected him. Yet he loved wine and neglected official business, and for this reason never gained real authority. When others remonstrated with him, he replied, "It is not that I do not understand, but human life is like a lamp in the wind or a spark on flint—if I do not drink, what else is there to do? In his later years he sank even deeper into drink, and people called him the Wine Immortal.
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論曰:庶成定法令,治民者不容高下其手。 庶箴雖嘗表請廣姓氏,以秩典禮,其隨勢俯仰,則有愧於其子蒲魯矣。 楊皙為上寵遇,叠封王爵,而功業不少概見。 然得愛民治國之要,其楊佶哉!
The appraisal says: By fixing the statutes, Shucheng ensured that those who governed the people could not manipulate penalties at will. Although Shuzhen once memorialized to expand the clan registers and set ritual precedence, his readiness to bend with changing fortunes left him shamed before his son Pulu. Yang Xi enjoyed the emperor's favor and received repeated enfeoffments as prince, yet his substantive achievements are scarcely to be seen. Yet in mastering the essentials of caring for the people and governing the realm—surely that was Yang Ji!