Du Yan (杜彥) | 24 Histories

Overview

Du Yan was a general.

Life and dates

Death

AD 598 to AD 604 未幾，以疾征還，卒
Age Value: 60
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 33

Age

60
Reckoning Sui · Context at death
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 33

Attested activity

AD 557 to AD 580 仕周
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 4
AD 598 十八年，遼東之役
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 29
AD 589 平陳
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 52, passage 23
AD 589 平陳之役
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 13
AD 591 征拜雲州總管
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 26
AD 587 後六歲
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 12

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AD 573 從柱國陸通擊陳將吳明徹於土州
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 4
AD 598 to AD 604 未幾，以疾征還，卒
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 33
AD 581 開皇初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 11
AD 590 高智慧等之作亂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 18
AD 581 to AD 604 高祖
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 55, passage 286
AD 580 高祖為丞相
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 9

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Qian (遷)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 2
Parent of Baoqian (寶虔)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passages 28, 34
Parent of Bao'an (寶安)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 17

Key source chapters

Career and standing

regional commander of Shuozhou 朔州總管
AD 598 十八年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 31
general of the Left Martial Guard 左武衛將軍
AD 587 後六歲 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 12
regional commander of Yunzhou 雲州總管
AD 591 於是征拜 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 26
prefect of Longzhou 隴州刺史
AD 574 to AD 580 明年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 8
prefect of Danzhou 丹州刺史
AD 581 開皇初 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 11
administrator of Longshan commandery 治隆山郡事
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 7

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administrator of Wei commandery 魏郡太守
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 10
Grand Commander 大都督
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 6
Left Attendant Senior Clerk 左侍上士
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 4
regional commander of Hongzhou 洪州總管
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 23
campaign commander 行軍總管
AD 598 十八年，遼東之役 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 29
campaign commander 行軍總管
AD 589 平陳之役 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 13
campaign commander 行軍總管
AD 590 高智慧等之作亂 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 18
Pillar of State 柱國
AD 589 及陳平 · Promoted
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 17
Senior Commander-in-Chief 上開府
Promoted
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 10
Yitong 儀同
Promoted
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 7
regional commander of Yunzhou 雲州總管
AD 598 to AD 600 複拜雲州總管 · Reappointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 32
Baron of Yong'an county 永安縣伯
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 8
Marquis of Xiangwu county 襄武縣侯
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 10
Marquis of Xiangwu county 襄武縣侯
Changed fief
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 10
Baron of Yong'an county 永安縣伯
AD 574 to AD 580 明年 · Granted
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 8
duke 公
AD 581 開皇初 · Raised
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 11
Captured
Captor · With Xu Yi (許翼)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 15
Entered
Recalled for illness
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 33

Places and affiliations

AD 581 開皇初
Polity Sui 隋 · Relation Served
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 11
Polity Northern Zhou 周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 4
Polity Sui 隋 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 55, passage 286
At Yunzhong 雲中
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 1
At Hongzhou 洪州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 23
At Longshan commandery 隆山郡 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 7

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At Shuozhou 朔州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 31
At Wei commandery 魏郡 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 10
At Yulin 榆林 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passages 25-26
At Yunzhou 雲州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passages 26, 32

Learning and skills

Skill mounted archery 騎射 · Level excelled
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 3
Skill military affairs 軍旅 · Level versed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 30

Events and relationships

Advanced with
AD 589 平陳之役 · Military · Commander · With Han Qin (韓擒)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 13
Campaigned against
AD 580 高祖為丞相 · Military · Officer · With Yuchi Jiong (尉遲迥) · At Xiangzhou 相州
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 9
Captured city
AD 589 平陳之役 · Military · Commander · With Xu Yi (許翼) · At Nanling 南陵城
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 15
Captured stockades
Military · Commander · At Cangdui and Baiyang 倉塠、白楊
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 5
Defeated and beheaded
AD 590 高智慧等之作亂 · Military · Commander · With Li Tuo (李陀) · At Pengshan 彭山
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 20
Defeated
AD 573 從柱國陸通擊陳將吳明徹於土州 · Military · Subordinate commander · With Wu Mingche (吳明徹) · At Tuzhou 土州 · Counterpart Person Id Lu Tong (陸通)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 4

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Followed
AD 598 十八年，遼東之役 · Military · Campaign commander · With Prince of Han (漢王) · At Yingzhou 營州
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 29
Joined forces
AD 589 平陳之役 · Military · Commander · With Han Qin (韓擒) · At Xinlin 新林
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 16
Lifted siege
AD 590 高智慧等之作亂 · Military · Campaign commander · At Jiangzhou 江州 · With Gao Zhihui (高智慧)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 18
Oversaw fifty camps
AD 598 十八年 · Military · Overall commander
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 30
Pacified lairs
AD 590 高智慧等之作亂 · Military · Commander · At Jinshan, Yangfu, Ruo, and Shibi 錦山、陽父、若、石壁
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 19
Pacified lairs
AD 590 高智慧等之作亂 · Military · Commander · At Xuzhou and Yifeng 徐州、宜豐
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 21
Repelled and executed raiders
Military · Commander · Opponent Turks 突厥
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 27
Sent subordinate
AD 589 平陳之役 · Military · Commander · With Fan Zigai (樊子蓋) · At Nanling 南陵
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 14
Suppressed
Military · Commander · With Fan Zhi (樊志) · At Yingzhou 郢州
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 6
Won repeated victories in east and south and held northern frontier
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 286
Relation Subordinate of · Person Yang Su (楊素)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 18
Relation Campaign colleague of · Person Han Qin (韓擒)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passages 13, 16
Relation Subordinate of · Person Wei Xiaokuan (韋孝寬)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 9
Relation Subordinate of · Person Lu Tong (陸通)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 4
Relation Commander of · Person Fan Zigai (樊子蓋)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 14
Relation Subordinate of · Person Prince of Han (漢王)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 29

Assessments and attributes

Assessment feared by northern peoples; Turkic horsemen dared not approach the frontier · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 27
Assessment repeated battle merit; northern frontier kept free of barbarian dust · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 286
Assessment strong reputation for effective administration · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 23
bold and decisive / brave and resolute
Character
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 3
AD 589 及陳平
Item five thousand bolts of goods 物五千段 · Relation Bestowed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 17
AD 589 及陳平
Item six thousand piculs of grain 粟六千石 · Relation Bestowed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 17

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AD 580 高祖為丞相
Item thirty slaves 奴婢三十口 · Relation Bestowed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 9
AD 580 高祖為丞相
Item three thousand bolts of goods 物三千段 · Relation Bestowed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 55, passage 9
Item more than a hundred slaves 奴婢百餘口 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 22

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 1

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Book of Sui, Chapter 52Volume 52 Biographies 17: Han Qinhu, He Ruobi · 1 passage

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晉王遣行軍總管杜彥與擒虎合軍，步騎二萬，陳叔寶遣領軍蔡徵守朱雀航，聞擒虎將至，眾懼而潰。 The Prince of Jin sent Campaign Commander Du Yan to join Qinhu with twenty thousand foot and horse. Chen Shubao ordered Palace Guard Director Cai Zheng to hold the Zhuque crossing, but at word that Qinhu was approaching the army panicked and broke.

Book of Sui, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 20: Du Yan, Gao Mai, Er Zhu Chang, Zhou Yao, Du Gukai, Qi Fuhui, Zhang Wei, He Hong, Houmo Chenying · 13 passages

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杜彥，雲中人也。 Du Yan was from Yunzhong.

彥性勇果，善騎射。 Yan was bold and decisive by nature and excelled at horseback archery.

明年，拜隴州刺史，賜爵永安縣伯。 The following year he became prefect of Longzhou and was created Baron of Yong'an.

進位上開府，改封襄武縣侯，拜魏郡太守。 He was promoted to Senior Commander-in-Chief, enfeoffed as Marquis of Xiangwu, and appointed administrator of Wei commandery.

軍至南陵，賊屯據江岸，彥遣儀同樊子蓋率精兵擊破其柵，獲船六百餘艘。 At Nanling the enemy held the riverbank; Yan sent Yitong Fan Zigai with an elite force to break their stockade and capture more than six hundred vessels.

及陳平，賜物五千段，粟六千石，進位柱國，賜子寶安爵昌陽縣公。 After Chen fell he received five thousand bolts of goods and six thousand piculs of grain, was promoted to Pillar of State, and his son Bao'an was created Duke of Changyang.

智慧餘黨往往屯聚，保投溪洞，彥水陸兼進，攻錦山、陽父、若、石壁四洞，悉平之，皆斬其渠帥。 Zhihui's scattered followers held out in mountain ravines; Yan struck by land and water, reduced the strongholds at Jinshan, Yangfu, Ruo, and Shibi, and executed their leaders.

賊李陀擁眾數千，據彭山，彥襲擊破之，斬陀，傳其首。 The rebel Li Tuo gathered several thousand men on Pengshan; Yan surprised and routed him, killed Tuo, and forwarded his head.

後數日，上曰：「吾思可以鎮榆林者，莫過杜彥。」 A few days later he said, "When I think who should hold Yulin, no one surpasses Du Yan."

突厥來寇，彥輒擒斬之，北夷畏憚，胡馬不敢至塞。 Whenever Turks raided, Yan captured and executed them; the northern peoples stood in awe of him, and their horsemen no longer dared approach the border.

上以彥曉習軍旅，令總統五十營事。 Knowing Yan's mastery of military affairs, the emperor put him in overall charge of fifty camps.

突厥複寇雲州，上令楊素擊走之，是後猶恐為邊患，以彥素為突厥所憚，複拜雲州總管。 When the Turks raided Yunzhou again, the emperor sent Yang Su to repel them; still anxious about the frontier, and knowing the Turks feared Yan, he reappointed him commander of Yunzhou.

【論】史臣曰：杜彥東夏、南服，屢有戰功，作鎮朔垂，胡塵不起。 [Commentary] The historian writes: Du Yan won repeated victories in the east and south; on the northern frontier he kept the barbarians at bay.