Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and Statesman

Chu Yuan 褚淵

Attested AD 472 - AD 482

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Chu Yuan was an official and Statesman.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 472 to AD 482 褚淵舉文季至玄圃宴
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passages 122, 248

Learning and skills

Skill pipa 琵琶 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passage 129

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Wu of Qi (世祖)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 44, passages 122, 125

References in the histories

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 44Volume 44 Biographies 25: Xu Xiaosi, Shen Wenji · 7 passages

晉平王休祐爲南徐州，帝問褚淵須幹事人爲上佐，淵舉文季。 When Prince of Jinping Xiu You was assigned to Southern Xuzhou, the emperor asked Chu Yuan for a capable man as chief aide; Yuan recommended Wenji.

司徒褚淵當世貴望，頗以門戶裁之，文季不爲之屈。 Minister of Works Chu Yuan was the most eminent man of the age and often judged others by family standing; Wenji would not yield to him.

文季數舉酒勸淵，淵甚不平，啓世祖曰：「沈文季謂淵經爲其郡，數加淵酒。」 Wenji repeatedly urged Yuan to drink; Yuan was deeply displeased and reported to the Heir Apparent, "Shen Wenji says that Yuan once served as magistrate in his home commandery and keeps pressing wine on him."

遂言及虜動，淵曰：「陳顯達、沈文季當今將略，足委以邊事。」 The talk then turned to northern incursions; Yuan said, "Chen Xianda and Shen Wenji are the foremost strategists of our day—sufficient to entrust with frontier affairs."

文季諱稱將門，因是發怒，啓世祖曰：「褚淵自謂是忠臣，未知身死之日，何面目見宋明帝？」 Wenji resented being called a man of a general's house and in anger reported to the Heir Apparent, "Chu Yuan calls himself a loyal minister—when the day of his death comes, with what face will he meet Emperor Ming of Song?"

後豫章王北宅後堂集會，文季與淵并善琵琶，酒闌，淵取樂器，爲明君曲。 Later, at a gathering in the rear hall of Prince Yuzhang's north residence, Wenji and Yuan were both skilled at the pipa; when the wine was ending Yuan took up the instrument and played the Bright Lord melody.

淵顏色無異，曲終而止。 Yuan's expression did not change; when the tune ended he stopped.