Page 124 - Gan's Family History
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understanding of various kinds of
knowledge. It was on this basis that
he wrote the famous Instructions to
the Yan Family , which was read
36
and studied for over 1,000 years.
In addition to Instructions to
the Yan Family, he had 30 volumes
of collected works, three volumes of
Wronged Souls, and 20 volumes of
Records of Spirits, the last two works
being about the mysterious and the
supernatural. Simple, easy, and
touching, his writings had
considerable influence on later
generations.
Yan Zhitui was from Linyi
34 (present day Shandong) with the
courtesy name Jie or Jienan. He was
Another filial son was Yan Zhitui born in a family of Confucian
(Yan Chitu) who wrote a book, The scholars engaged in the study of the
Family Teachings of the Yan Clan, in Rites of Zhou and Spring and Autumn
which he outlined all the important by Zuo Qiuming. His father Yan Xie
points in Confucius' teachings and had been secretary of Xiao Yi, Prince
instructed his descendants to adhere Xiangdong, of the Southern Liang
strictly to the Confucian way. He and Dynasty.
his younger brother Yan Zhuyi (Yan He read widely and had a good
Chiyi) were the sons of Yan Hsien, command of classics, history, and
who was the 34th descendant of Yan practical subjects. Particularly good
Hui. at writing, he was appointed regular
aide to Prince Xiangdong when he
In his rhapsody My Life, Yan was very young, and later promoted
Zhitui (531-590) regarded himself to be military attaché. When Xiao Yi
35
as one who had suffered from the sent his son, Xiao Fangzhu, to be
calamity of national destruction garrison commander ofYingzhou,
three times. Because of that, he was Yan Zhitui was appointed his
familiar with the politics, customs, military attache and secretary.
and learning of the Northern and In 552, Xiao Yi took the throne
Southern dynasties. Eager to learn himself, and 22-year-old Yan Zhitui
and diligent in thinking and study, was promoted Deputy Imperial
he had his own particular Adviser. Two years later, Western
34 Picture Extracted from the book “100 Chinese Written by Wu Boheng, Translated by Wang Xuewen &
Scholars”by illustrator Lu Yanguang Sui Yun and Published by Asiapac Books.
35 Extracted from the book “100 Chinese Scholars” 36 See full Text on page 147
