Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Poet and Official

Yan Yanzhi 顏延之

Yán Yánzhī

c. AD 384 - AD 456

Passages
52
Chapters
9
Histories
3

Overview

Yan Yanzhi was a Poet and Official.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Other names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Courtesy name Yannian 延年 Yánnián
Posthumous name Xianzi 憲子 Xiànzǐ

Life and dates

Death

Age

Attested activity

Show 14 more source-backed claims

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Key source chapters

  1. Book of Song, Chapter 73 Volume 73 Biographies 33: Yan Yanzhi 41 passages
  2. Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 32 Volume 32 Biographies 13: Wang Kun, Zhang Dai, Chu Xuan, He Ji, Wang Yanzhi, Ruan Tao 2 passages
  3. Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 39 Volume 39 Biographies 20: Liu Huan, Di Jin, Lu Cheng 3 passages
  4. Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 47 Volume 47 Biographies 28: Wang Rong, Xie Tiao 1 passage
  5. Book of Song, Chapter 58 Volume 58 Biographies 18: Wang Hui, Xie Hongwei, Wang Qiu 1 passage

Career and standing

Show 35 more source-backed claims

Places and affiliations

Learning and skills

Works and attributed material

Show 17 more source-backed claims

Events and relationships

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Assessments and attributes

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Source notes

References in the histories

52 passages

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 32Volume 32 Biographies 13: Wang Kun, Zhang Dai, Chu Xuan, He Ji, Wang Yanzhi, Ruan Tao · 2 passages
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Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 39Volume 39 Biographies 20: Liu Huan, Di Jin, Lu Cheng · 3 passages
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Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 47Volume 47 Biographies 28: Wang Rong, Xie Tiao · 1 passage
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Book of Song, Chapter 58Volume 58 Biographies 18: Wang Hui, Xie Hongwei, Wang Qiu · 1 passage
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Book of Song, Chapter 62Volume 62 Biographies 22: Yang Xin, Zhang Fu, Wang Wei · 1 passage
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Book of Song, Chapter 66Volume 66 Biographies 26: Wang Jinghong, He Shangzhi · 1 passage
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Book of Song, Chapter 70Volume 70 Biographies 30: Yuan Shu · 1 passage
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世祖即位，使顏延之為詔曰：「夫輕道重義，亟聞其教；世弊國危，希遇其人。自非達義之至，識正之深者，孰能抗心衞主，遺身固節者哉。故太子左衞率淑，文辯優洽，秉尚貞慤。當要逼之切，意色不橈，厲辭道逆，氣震凶黨。虐刃交至，取斃不移。古之懷忠隕難，未云出其右者。興言嗟悼，無廢乎心。宜在加禮，永旌宋有臣焉。可贈侍中、太尉，諡曰忠憲公。」 When Emperor Xiaowu took the throne, he had Yan Yanzhi draft an edict: "When the Way is slighted and righteousness weighed heavily, the teaching has long been heard; in an age of decay and a state in peril, such a person is rarely met. Unless one has reached the utmost in grasping righteousness and depth in knowing what is correct, who could brace the heart to guard his lord, leave the body, and hold fast to integrity? Former Left Guard General of the Heir Apparent Shu was eloquent and thorough and upheld pure sincerity. When coercion pressed hardest, his expression did not bend; with stern words he denounced rebellion, and his spirit shook the vicious faction. Cruel blades fell together, yet he met death without wavering. Among the loyal who fell in disaster in antiquity, none are said to surpass him. At these words we sigh and mourn, and our hearts cannot be unmoved. He deserves added honors, eternally displaying that Song had such a minister. He may be posthumously awarded Palace Attendant and Grand Commandant, with the posthumous title Duke of Loyal Integrity."
Book of Song, Chapter 73Volume 73 Biographies 33: Yan Yanzhi · 41 passages
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義熙十二年，高祖北伐，有宋公之授，府遣一使慶殊命，參起居，延之與同府王參軍俱奉使至洛陽，道中作詩二首，文辭藻麗，為謝晦、傅亮所賞。 In the twelfth year of Yixi (416), when the Founder Liu Yu campaigned north and received the title Duke of Song, the staff sent an envoy to mark the exceptional honor and attend court. Yanzhi and a fellow retainer named Wang went together to Luoyang; en route they wrote two poems whose diction was rich and polished, winning the praise of Xie Hui and Fu Liang.
時延之已拜，欲黜為遠郡，太祖與義康詔曰：「降延之為小邦不政，有謂其在都邑，豈動物情，罪過彰著，亦士庶共悉，直欲選代，令思愆里閭。 Yanzhi had already accepted the post, but they meant to banish him to a remote commandery. Emperor Wen wrote to Yikang: "Sending Yanzhi to a minor post is not because he governs badly. Some say that in the capital he stirs people's hearts; his faults are plain and known to all. We only want to replace him and let him repent at home.
Book of Wei, Chapter 91Volume 85: Men of Letters: Yuan Yue, Pei Jingxian, Lu Guan, Feng Su, Xing Cang, Pei Bomao, Xing Xin · 1 passage
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