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Overview The translated histories identify Yan Matron as a named individual. This record brings together 6 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.
Names Type English Chinese Pinyin
Personal
Yan Matron
嚴嫗
Yan Yu
Alternate
mother
母
mu
Title
Ten-thousand-bushel Yan Matron
萬石嚴嫗
Wanshi Yan Yu
Alternate
Yannian's mother
延年母
Yannian mu
Identity
Historicity Historical
Identification Named
Sex Uncertain References in the histories Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.
Book of Han, Chapter 102 Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 6 passages
初,延年母從東海來,欲從延年臘,到雒陽,適見報囚。
His mother arrived for the winter offering and witnessed executions at Luoyang.
母大驚,便止都亭,不肯入府。
Horrified, she halted at the relay inn and refused his compound.
延年出至都亭謁母,母閉閣不見。
He knelt outside until she opened.
延年免冠頓首閣下,良久,母乃見之,因數責延年:「幸得備郡守,專治千里,不聞仁愛教化,有以全安愚民,顧乘刑罰多刑殺人,欲以立威,豈為民父母意哉!」
Yannian removed his cap and kowtowed below the gate. After a long time his mother received him, then reproached him again and again: "You were fortunate enough to serve as grand administrator, governing a thousand li on your own, yet I hear nothing of humane love, moral instruction, or any means by which you made the ignorant people whole and secure. Instead you relied on punishments, killed many people, and hoped thereby to establish awe. Is this what it means to be father and mother to the people?"
母畢正臘,謂延年:「天道神明,人不可獨殺。
After his mother completed the proper winter sacrifice, she said to Yannian, "Heaven's way is numinous and bright; a man cannot go on killing alone.
延年兄弟五人皆有吏材,至大官,東海號曰「萬石嚴嫗」。
Yannian brothers five all had clerk talent—reached high offices—Donghai titled "Ten-thousand-bushel Yan Matron."