Yuan Dexiu (元德秀) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yuan Dexiu was an official, Scholar, and Writer.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Yuan Lushan	元魯山	Yuan Lushan
Courtesy name	Zizhi	紫芝	Zizhi
Posthumous name	Master of Literary Conduct	文行先生	Wenxing xiansheng
Alternate name	Lushan	魯山	Lushan

Life and dates

Death

AD 754 天寶十三載
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 36

Age

60
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 41

Attested activity

AD 754 天寶十三載
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 36
AD 700 to AD 760 於事多遺忘，言元稹不應進士，以父元魯山名進故也，多如此類。
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 71, passage 88
AD 712 to AD 756 玄宗在東都
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 194, passages 17, 20
AD 695 to AD 754 生六十年…天寶十三載
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 36, 41
AD 713 to AD 756 開元、天寶間
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 238

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Nephew of Yuan Dexiu
brother's son 兄子 · paternal line · Through Elder Brother of Yuan Dexiu
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 8-9
Sibling of Elder Brother of Yuan Dexiu
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 8
Child of Father of Yuan Dexiu
father 父
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 194, passages 4, 8
Parent of Yuan Zhen (元稹)
father 父
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 71, passage 88
Child of Mother of Yuan Dexiu
mother 母
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 4
Kin of Yuan Jie (結)
younger clansman 族弟
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 38

Kinship Role concubines · Count 0 · Negated true
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 28
Kinship Role wives · Count 0 · Negated true
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 8

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Magistrate of Lushan 魯山令
Appointed · At Lushan 魯山
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 10
Magistrate of Nanhe 南和尉
Appointed · At Nanhe 南和
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 6
Recorder of the Longwu Army 龍武軍錄事參軍
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 7
Master of Literary Conduct 文行先生
Received · Authority Li Hua (李華)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 44
Endured
Poverty
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 26, 28-29
Yuan of Mount Lu 元魯山
Revered · Personal name avoided
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 45

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 238; New Book of Tang 194, passages 6, 17, 36
At Henan in Henan Commandery 河南河南
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 2
At Luhun 陸渾 · Relation Resided at
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 27

Learning and skills

Earned
Credential Presented Scholar 進士
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 4-5
Skill zither 琴 · Level practiced
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 30
Skill literary composition 文辭 · Level skilled
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 33

Works and attributed material

Lyrics for Breaking the Battle Array 破陣樂辭
Relation Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 52
The Lame Gentleman Fu 蹇士賦
Relation Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 33
Yu xian yu 於蒍於
Relation Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 20-21
Speech · Speaker · Mode quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 14-15

Events and relationships

Allowed thief to redeem by slaying tiger
Legal · Magistrate · At Lushan 魯山
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 12-16
Carried mother to capital
Personal · Caregiver · With Mother of Yuan Dexiu
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 4
Gave salary to orphans and destitute
Personal · Donor
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 25
Injured foot falling from cart
Medical · Subject
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 11
Lived in hut by grave
Ritual · Mourner · With Mother of Yuan Dexiu
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 5
Nursed orphan nephew
Personal · Caregiver · With Nephew of Yuan Dexiu
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 9

Show 13 more source-backed claims

Presented song Yu xian yu
Ritual · Participant · With Emperor Xuanzong (玄宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 20-22
Refused marriage
Personal · Subject · Summary Refused to marry after parents' death, citing his elder brother's son as heir for ancestral rites 不肯婚，以兄有子先人得祀
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 8
Relation Teacher of · Person Liu Shi (柳識)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Yang Zheng (楊拯)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Wei-yue (惟嶽)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Qiao Tan (喬潭)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Xing Zhou (宙)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Xing Yu (邢宇)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Dan-shu (丹叔)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Cheng Xiu (程休)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Zhang Mao-zhi (張茂之)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Fang Chui (房垂)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32
Relation Teacher of · Person Li Shi (李)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 32

Assessments and attributes

Assessment aimed to order the empire by the Way; wished to level foolish and wise; humanity as tutor-protector; flaw was wine · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Li Hua (李華)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 47-49, 56
Assessment benevolent administration · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 6
Assessment knowing him was Su Yuanming's sole unashamed claim amid a decadent age · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Su Yuanming (蘇源明)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 35
Assessment no weakness in youth, no obstinacy, no clinging in old age, no surplus at death; extreme frugality and chastity · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Yuan Jie (結)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 40-41
Assessment presence dispels craving for fame and gain · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Fang Guan (房琯)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 34
Assessment worthy man; fame increased after Xuanzong praised his song · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Emperor Xuanzong (玄宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 22, 24

Show 3 more source-backed claims

loved wine
Habit
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passages 30, 56
never knew women; never looked on brocade; never sought surplus; never owned ten mu of land, ten chi of dwelling, or a servant boy; never wore whole cloth or ate all five flavors
Life conduct
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 41
Item pillows, shoes, baskets, and gourds 枕履簞瓢 · Relation Possessed at death
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 194, passage 36

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 238; New Book of Tang 194, passage 1

References in the histories

Search passages

History

24 passages

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 129Volume 125 Biographies 75: Zhang Yi, Liu Congyi, Xiao Fu, Liu Hun · 1 passage

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渾母兄識，，篤意文章，有重名於開元、天寶間，與蕭穎士、元德秀、劉迅相亞。 Hun's elder maternal brother Shi was devoted to literature and had a great reputation during the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras, ranking alongside Xiao Yingshi, Yuan Dexiu, and Liu Xun.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 71Volume 71 Book of Later Tang 47: Biographies 23: Ma Yu, Si Kongting, Cao Tingyin, Xiao Xifu, Yao Zongzhi, Jia Fu, Ma Gao, Luo Guan, Chun Yuyan, Zhang Ge, Xu Ji, Zhou Xuanbao · 1 passage

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於事多遺忘，言元稹不應進士，以父元魯山名進故也，多如此類。 He often forgot things; he claimed Yuan Zhen should never have taken the jinshi because he had advanced by his father Yuan Lushan's name—errors of that sort were common with him.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 194Volume 194 Biographies 119: Outstanding Conduct · 22 passages

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元德秀 Yuan Dexiu

元德秀，字紫芝，河南河南人。 Yuan Dexiu, whose style was Zizhi, came from Henan in Henan Commandery.

德秀不及親在而娶，不肯婚，人以為不可絕嗣，答曰：「兄有子，先人得祀，吾何娶為？」 Dexiu had never married while his parents lived, and he now refused to wed at all. People urged that he must not let the line die out, but he answered: "My elder brother has a son; our ancestors will still receive offerings—why should I take a wife?"

初，兄子繈褓喪親，無資得乳媼，德秀自乳之，數日湩流，能食乃止。 Earlier, his brother's infant son had lost both parents and the family could not afford a wet nurse, so Dexiu nursed the child himself until milk came; only when the boy could eat solid food did he stop.

既長，將為娶，家苦貧，乃求為魯山令。 When the boy grew up and a marriage had to be arranged, the household was desperately poor, so Dexiu sought appointment as magistrate of Lushan.

有盜系獄，會虎為暴，盜請格虎自贖，許之。 A thief was in custody when tigers began ravaging the district; the man asked to slay a tiger in exchange for his freedom, and Dexiu consented.

德秀曰：「許之矣，不可負約。 Dexiu replied: "I have already promised him; I cannot break my word.

德秀惟樂工數十人，聯袂歌《於蒍於》。 Dexiu brought only a few dozen musicians, who sang arm in arm his song "Yu xian yu."