Page 125 - Gan's Family History
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Wei captured Jiangling, and Xiao Yi cultivation and household
was put to death after surrendering management. A good example was in
to the invading army. Yan Zhitui was the chapter "Cultivation of Children"
sent to Li Yuan to be secretary by Li's which described an official of the
brother, Li Mu, Senior General of Northern Qi who once told others:
Western Wei who thought highly of "I have a 17-year-old son who is not
him. Reluctant to serve the enemy of only good at writing documents and
his country, Yan and his family memorials but also very quick at
crossed the rising Yellow River at the learning Xianbi language and playing
risk of their lives and went over to the pipa (The imperial rulers of Northern
Northern Qi. The Qi emperor Qi were strong champions of the
treasured his learning and character culture of the Xianbi minority and
very much and immediately made liked pipa and other musical
him Senior Imperial Aide. Later he instruments). I am sure he will win the
was promoted Military Adviser, favour of the nobles and senior
Senior Minister, and Imperial officials if he serves them with his
Adviser. However, the Northern Zhou talent."
destroyed the Northern Qi in 577,
and for a second time Yan Zhitui Just a few words brought out the
experienced the loss of his country. servile attitude of the official who was
As he was an erudite scholar so shamelessly eager to serve a
from the south, Emperor Wudi foreign nationality. And some pans in
respected him and made him the chapter "Household
supervising censor of the Northern Management" revealing and
Zhou. In a few years, emperor Wendi criticizing mercenary marriage were
of Sui overthrew the Northern Zhou also of positive significance.
in 581, and the crown prince, Yang
Yong, as imperial scholar, recruited At the time of his passing, Yan Zhitui
eight years later Yan Zhitui. But he was about 61 years of age. In
felt it was shameful to serve different addition to Instructions to the Yan
dynasties. Family, he had 30 volumes of
In his rhapsody My Life he collected works, three volume of
said that he would not have been put Wronged Souls and 20 volumes of
in the awkward position of serving Records of spirits; the las two works
different dynasties if he had been being about the mysterious and the
resigned to the position of a common supernatural. Simple, easy and
scholar without taking any official touching, his writing had
post. considerable influences on later
Yan Zhitui was learned and generations
conversant with history and capable
of writing excellent verse and prose.
Particularly praiseworthy were his 20
volumes of Instructions to the Yan
Family, which dealt with moral
