Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and Scholar

Yu Ji 虞寄

c. AD 510 - AD 579

Passages: 45
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Yu Ji was an official and Scholar.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Ci'an	次安	Ci'an

Life and dates

Death

AD 579 太建十一年
Age Value: 70
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 238

Age

70
Context at death
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 238

Attested activity

AD 548 to AD 552 侯景之亂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 19, passage 125
AD 535 to AD 546 大同中
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 116
AD 576 太建八年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 237
AD 579 太建十一年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 238
AD 552 承聖元年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 130

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Yu Jian (虞檢)
father 父 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Chen 19, passages 68, 107
Child of Mother of Yu Li
mother 母
Strongly inferred · Book of Chen 19, passages 93, 96
Sibling of Yu Li (虞荔)
second younger brother 第二弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passages 96, 107

Career and standing

Grand Master of Palace Counsel 太中大夫
AD 576 太建八年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 237
Doctor of the National University 國子博士
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 231
Left Regular Attendant in Kingdom of Xuancheng 宣城王國左常侍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 115
Adopted
Lay believer robes
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 136

Places and affiliations

Chen 陳
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 229
Liang 梁
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 115
At Yuyao in Kuaiji 會稽餘姚
Strongly inferred · Book of Chen 19, passages 66, 107
At East Mountain Temple 東山寺 · Relation Resided at
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 137
At Minzhong 閩中 · Relation Sojourned in
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passages 96, 128

Learning and skills

Earned
Credential cultivated talent 秀才
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 114

Works and attributed material

Letter · Author · With Chen Baoying (陳寶應) · Extent Unit Ids s0142, s0143, s0144, s0145, s0146, s0147, s0148, s0149, s0150, s0151, s0152, s0153, s0154, s0155, s0156, s0157, s0158, s0160, s0161, s0162, s0163, s0164, s0167, s0168, s0169, s0170, s0171, s0172, s0173, s0174, s0175, s0176, s0177, s0178, s0179, s0180, s0181, s0182, s0183, s0184, s0185, s0186, s0187, s0188, s0189, s0190, s0191, s0192, s0193, s0194, s0195, s0196, s0197, s0198, s0199, s0200, s0201, s0202, s0203, s0204, s0205, s0206, s0207, s0208, s0209, s0210, s0211
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passages 141-142, 211

Events and relationships

Detained
Political · Hostage like detainee · With Chen Baoying (陳寶應)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 130
House burned
Ordeal · Victim · With Chen Baoying (陳寶應)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 137
Urged allegiance
Political · Adviser · With Chen Baoying (陳寶應)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 129
Relation Adviser to · Person Chen Baoying (陳寶應)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passages 129, 141
Relation Teacher of · Person Prince of Hengyang (Chen) (衡陽王)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 230

Assessments and attributes

Assessment steadfast and feared no bare blades · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 239

References in the histories

Search passages

History

45 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 19Volume 19: Shen Jiong; Yu Li; Ma Shu · 45 passages

沈炯虞荔弟寄馬樞 Shen Jiong; Yu Li; younger brother Ji; Ma Shu

時荔第二弟寄寓於閩中，依陳寶應，荔每言之輒流涕。 At the time Li's second younger brother Ji was staying in Min under Chen Baoying; whenever Li spoke of it he wept.

乃敕寶應求寄，寶應終不遣。 He then ordered Baoying to send Ji back, but Baoying never sent him.

寄字次安，少聰敏。 Ji, styled Ci'an, was clever in youth.

年數歲，客有造其父者，遇寄於門，因嘲之曰︰「郎君姓虞，必當無智。」 When a few years old a guest came to his father and met Ji at the gate. He mocked him: "Young master, your surname is Yu—you must have no wisdom."

寄應聲答曰：「文字不辨，豈得非愚？」 Ji answered at once: "If you cannot tell the characters, are you not foolish?"

入謂其父曰：「此子非常人，文舉之對不是過也。」 Entering, he told Ji's father: "This child is no ordinary person—Wenju's reply was not better."

大同中，嘗驟雨，殿前往往有雜色寶珠，梁武觀之甚有喜色，寄因上瑞雨頌。 In the Datong era a sudden rain once left mixed-colored pearls before the hall. Emperor Wu of Liang was greatly pleased, and Ji submitted a eulogy on the auspicious rain.

帝謂寄兄荔曰：「此頌典裁清拔，卿家之士龍也。 The emperor told Ji's elder brother Li: "This eulogy is clear and lofty—your family's Shilong.

寄聞之，歎曰：「美盛德之形容，以申擊壤之情耳。 When Ji heard it he sighed: "To praise flourishing virtue is only to voice the joy of beating clods.

岳陽王為會稽太守，引寄為行參軍，遷記室參軍，領郡五官掾。 When the Prince of Yueyang was administrator of Kuaiji he brought Ji in as traveling aide, then staff recorder, leading the commandery's five offices major.

侯景之亂，寄隨兄荔入臺，除鎮南湘東王諮議參軍，加貞威將軍。 During Hou Jing's rebellion, Ji followed his elder brother Li into the Terrace City. He was appointed advisory aide to the Prince of Xiangdong, general who guards the south, and was additionally made resolute-prestige general.

及張彪往臨川，彊寄俱行，寄與彪將鄭瑋同舟而載，瑋嘗忤彪意，乃劫寄奔于晉安。 When Zhang Biao went to Linchuan, he forced Ji to go with him. Ji shared a boat with Biao's general Zheng Wei, who had once offended Biao; Wei therefore abducted Ji and fled to Jin'an.

時陳寶應據有閩中，得寄甚喜。 At the time Chen Baoying held Minzhong and was delighted to get Ji.

高祖平侯景，寄勸令自結，寶應從之，乃遣使歸誠。 When the Founder pacified Hou Jing, Ji urged Baoying to bind himself to him. Baoying followed the advice and sent an envoy to offer allegiance.

承聖元年，除和戎將軍、中書侍郎，寶應愛其才，託以道阻不遣。 In Chengsheng year 1 (552), Ji was appointed general who harmonizes with the Rong and secretariat gentleman. Baoying admired his talent and, claiming the roads were blocked, did not send him.

每欲引寄為僚屬，委以文翰，寄固辭，獲免。 Whenever Baoying tried to bring Ji in as a subordinate and entrust writings and documents to him, Ji firmly declined and was spared.

及寶應結婚留異，潛有逆謀，寄微知其意，言說之際，每陳逆順之理，微以諷諫，寶應輒引說他事以拒之。 When Baoying allied by marriage with Liu Yi he secretly harbored rebellion; Ji faintly knew it and in talk always stated the logic of obedience and rebellion, subtly admonishing; Baoying always turned to other matters.

寄正色曰：「覆酈驕韓，未足稱智； Ji said sternly: "Overturning Li and insulting Han is not enough to be called wisdom;

寄知寶應不可諫，慮禍及己，乃為居士服以拒絕之。 Ji knew Baoying could not be admonished and feared disaster; he wore lay believer's robes to refuse him.

常居東山寺，偽稱腳疾，不復起，寶應以為假託，使燒寄所臥屋，寄安臥不動。 He dwelt at East Mountain Temple, falsely claiming foot ailment and not rising; Baoying thought it pretense and burned Ji's sleeping house; Ji lay still.

親近將扶寄出，寄曰：「吾命有所懸，避欲安往？」 Kin were about to help him out; Ji said: "My fate has something it hangs on—where would fleeing go?"

及留異稱兵，寶應資其部曲，寄乃因書極諫曰： When Liu Yi raised troops Baoying supplied his command; Ji therefore wrote a letter admonishing to the utmost:

東山虞寄致書於明將軍使君節下：寄流離世故，飄寓貴鄉，將軍待以上賓之禮，申以國士之眷，意氣所感，何日忘之。 Yu Ji of East Mountain to the Bright General, Lord and Envoy: Adrift through worldly change, I sojourn in your honored district. You treated me with a chief guest's rites and a state's scholar's affection—what day could that feeling be forgotten!

而寄沈痼彌留，愒陰將盡，常恐卒填溝壑，涓塵莫報，是以敢布腹心，冒陳丹款，願將軍留須臾之慮，少思察之，則瞑目之日，所懷畢矣。 Yet my deep illness lingers, the setting sun nearly spent; I constantly fear I may fill a ditch and repay not even a drop—therefore I dare lay bare my heart and risk my loyal red. Pause a moment's thought and reflect a little—then on the day my eyes close, what is in my breast would be complete.

不意將軍惑於邪說，遽生異計，寄所以疾首痛心，泣盡繼之以血。 I did not expect you, deluded by evil persuasion, suddenly to harbor a different plan—therefore I grieve with head in pain, weeping until blood follows tears.

寄雖疾侵耄及，言無足採，千慮一得，請陳愚筭。 Though my illness invades old age and my words are not worth gathering, in a thousand thoughts one may gain—please let me state my foolish reckoning.

寄聞明者鑒未形，智者不再計，此成敗之效，將軍勿疑。 I have heard that the clear-sighted mirror what is not yet formed, the wise do not reckon twice—this is the effect of success and failure; you must not doubt.

寄氣力綿微，餘陰無幾，感恩懷德，不覺狂言，鈇鉞之誅，甘之如薺。 My strength is failing and little time remains; grateful for your kindness, I speak rashly without thinking. If the axe falls on me, I shall take it as gladly as shepherd's purse.

或謂寶應曰：「虞公病勢漸篤，言多錯謬。」 Someone told Baoying, "Lord Yu's illness is worsening; his words are mostly confused."

亦為寄有民望，且優容之。 Also because Ji enjoyed public esteem, he treated him with forbearance.

及寶應敗走，夜至蒲田，顧謂其子扞秦曰：「早從虞公計，不至今日。」 When Baoying was defeated and fled, he reached Putian by night and said to his son Han Qin, "Had we followed Lord Yu's counsel sooner, we would not be here today."

寶應既擒，凡諸賓客微有交涉者，皆伏誅，唯寄以先識免禍。 When Baoying was taken, every guest who had had dealings with him was executed; only Ji, through prior acquaintance, escaped.

慧摽賷以示寄，寄一覽便止，正色無言。 Huibiao showed it to Ji. Ji read it once, set it down, and said nothing, his face stern.

摽退，寄謂所親曰：「摽公既以此始，必以此終。」 When Huibiao left, Ji told his intimates, "Master Biao began with this; he will end with this."

文帝尋敕都督章昭達以理發遣，令寄還朝。 Emperor Wen soon ordered Area Commander Zhang Zhaoda to send Ji home to court.

及至，即日引見，謂寄曰：「管寧無恙。」 On arrival he was received that same day. The emperor said to Ji, "Guan Ning is well."

乃手敕用寄。 He then appointed Ji by personal edict.

寄入謝，文帝曰：「所以蹔屈卿遊藩者，非止以文翰相煩，乃令以師表相事也。」 Ji came to give thanks. The emperor said, "I bend you to the prince's household not only for paperwork but to be his teacher and example."

尋兼散騎常侍，聘齊，寄辭老疾，不行，除國子博士。 He was soon made regular attendant of the scattered cavalry and sent as envoy to Qi, but Ji pleaded age and illness and did not go; he was made doctor of the national university.

仍除東揚州別駕，寄又以疾辭。 He was then made vice-prefect of East Yangzhou; Ji again pleaded illness.

王於是特令停王府公事，其有疑議，就以決之，但朔望牋修而已。 The prince then stopped routine palace business for him; doubtful matters were referred to Ji for decision; he only drafted the regular memorial on the first and fifteenth of the month.

寄少篤行，造次必於仁厚，雖僮豎未嘗加以聲色，至於臨危執節，則辭氣凜然，白刃不憚也。 From youth Ji was steadfast in conduct; even in haste he was gentle and never raised his voice at servants or boys; yet in danger he held firm, his words icy, and he did not flinch from naked blades.

及謝病私庭，每諸王為州將，下車必造門致禮，命釋鞭板，以几杖侍坐。 In retirement at home, whenever a prince became area commander and alighted from his carriage, he came to Ji's gate with full ceremony; Ji was told to lay aside whip and writing board and receive him seated with staff and armrest.

或言誓為約者，但指寄便不欺，其至行所感如此。 Men who swore oaths would point to Ji and keep their word—such was the force of his conduct.