Xu Mian (徐勉) | 24 Histories

Overview

Xu Mian was an official and Ritual Compiler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Xiuren	脩仁	Xiuren
Posthumous name	Duke Jiansu	簡肅公	Jiansu Gong

Life and dates

Death

AD 535 大同元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 323

Age

6
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 49
70
AD 535 大同元年 · Reckoning Sui
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 323
old age already approaching
耄已將及 · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 198
old and declining; strength largely spent 年時朽暮，心力稍殫
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 263

Attested activity

AD 524 普通五年春二月丁丑
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 272, 274
AD 510 to AD 535 mourning-letter context for son Fei
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passages 284, 291, 295
AD 531 中大通三年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 318; Book of Liang 37, passage 46
AD 493 俄而元長及禍
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 56-58
AD 502 to AD 535 周捨徐勉
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passage 2
AD 535 大同元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 323-324

Show 22 more source-backed claims

AD 502 to AD 512 天監
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 154, 167-168
AD 510 天監九年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 181
AD 503 天監二年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 63
AD 507 天監六年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 70
AD 507 天監六年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 179-180
AD 512 天監十一年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 182-183
AD 483 to AD 489 太尉文憲公王儉時爲祭酒
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 45, 48-55
AD 520 to AD 524 年時朽暮
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 224, 263
AD 508 to AD 518 昭明太子尚幼
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 77, 79
AD 526 普通七年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 54
AD 522 普通三年十一月
Directly stated · Book of Liang 8, passage 31
AD 520 to AD 527 普通中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 37, passage 17
AD 524 普通五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 204-205, 213
AD 524 普通五年二月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 184, 198, 200
AD 525 普通六年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 105
AD 502 to AD 535 梁世
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 33, passage 178
AD 502 梁臺建
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 36, passage 18
AD 501 義兵至京邑
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 59-60
AD 520 to AD 540 賀琛普通中入都後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 38, passage 85
AD 502 高祖踐阼
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 61
AD 493 魏主南伐；齊世祖殂、鬱林即位之歲
Dated from the passage context · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passages 237, 240
AD 479 to AD 502 齊時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 306

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Changzong (長宗)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 46
Parent of Eldest son of Xu Mian
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 243, 254
Parent of Xu Fei (徐悱)
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 272, 274, 291, 294
Parent of Huiri (慧日)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passage 226
Parent of Shizhu (十住)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passages 226, 234
Child of Rong (融)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 47-48
Parent of Xu Song (徐崧)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 213

Kinship Role children and grandchildren · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 234
Kinship Role daughters · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 253
Kinship Role dependents · Quantity many
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 243
Kinship Role descendants · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 210-212
Kinship Role forebears · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 216
Kinship Role kinsmen · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 208

Key source chapters

Book of Liang, Chapter 25 Volume 25: Zhou She; Xu Mian 32 passages
Book of Liang, Chapter 36 Volume 36: Kong Xiuyuan; Jiang Ge 4 passages
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Chapter 138 Volume 138 Qi Records 4 3 passages
Book of Liang, Chapter 30 Volume 30: Pei Ziye; Gu Xie; Xu Chi; Bao Quan 2 passages
Book of Liang, Chapter 37 Volume 37: Xie Ju; He Jingrong 2 passages

Career and standing

compiler of ritual regulations 撰修禮儀
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 193, 198
court official serving the state 奉公
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 263, 281
manager of documents and records 管書記
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 60
prolific writer and state official 善屬文勤著述而當機務
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 302
student of the Imperial University 國子生
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 51
Regular Attendant 散騎常侍
Added
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 82

Show 51 more source-backed claims

General of Roaming Attack 遊擊將軍
Appointed concurrently but not assumed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 75
Chief Steward of the Heir Apparent 太子中庶子
Appointed concurrently
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 76
General of Cloud Cavalry 雲騎將軍
Appointed concurrently
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 82
Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel 尚書吏部郎
AD 503 天監二年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 63
Supervising Attendant of the Yellow Gate 給事黃門侍郎
AD 503 天監二年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 63
Minister of Personnel 吏部尚書
AD 507 天監六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 70
Minister of the Five Armies 五兵尚書
AD 507 天監六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 70
Supervising Attendant 給事中
AD 507 天監六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 70
Director of the Secretariat 中書令
AD 524 普通五年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 204
Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat 中書侍郎
AD 502 高祖踐阼 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 61
Advisory Staff Officer to the Rear Army 後軍諮議參軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 61
Attendant to the Prince of Xiyang 西陽王國侍郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 53
Central Troops Officer 中兵郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 55
Chief Clerk of the Army Guard 領軍長史
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 55
Erudite of the Imperial Academy 太學博士
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 54
General of the Central Guard 中衛將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 98
General of the Left Guard 左衛將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 76
General Who Establishes Might 建威將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 61
General Who Proclaims Favor 宣惠將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 97
Gentleman of the Palace in the Secretariat 尚書殿中郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 54
Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent 太子詹事
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 82
Left Assistant Director of the Masters of Writing 尚書左丞
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 61
Palace Attendant 侍中
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 64, 83
Rectifier of his home district 本邑中正
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 61
Regular Attendant 散騎常侍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 75
Right Vice Director of the Secretariat 尚書右僕射
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 82
Staff Member of the Suppressing Army 鎮軍參軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 54
Vice Director of the Secretariat 尚書僕射
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 98
foremost post on the right 端右
Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 281
Minister of Personnel 吏部尚書
Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 36, passage 18
Vice Director 僕射
Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 8, passage 31; Book of Liang 37, passages 17, 46
Selection Bureau post 選曹
Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 305
Opening Office with Ceremonial Equal to the Three Excellencies 開府儀同三司
AD 535 大同元年 · Posthumously granted
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 324
Right Grand Master for Splendid Happiness 右光祿大夫
AD 535 大同元年 · Posthumously granted
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 324
Specially Advanced 特進
AD 535 大同元年 · Posthumously granted
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 324
Right Commandant of the Heir Apparent's Guard 太子右衛率
Reassigned concurrently
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 75
Attendant-in-Ordinary 侍中
AD 531 中大通三年 · Transferred to
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 318
General of the Central Guard 中衛將軍
AD 531 中大通三年 · Transferred to
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 318
Right Grand Master for Splendid Happiness 右光祿大夫
AD 531 中大通三年 · Transferred to
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 318
Specially Advanced 特進
AD 531 中大通三年 · Transferred to
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 318
granted twenty personal attendants 給親信二十人
AD 524 普通五年 · Granted
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 204
Duke Jiansu 簡肅公
Posthumously titled
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 328
Entered
Old age
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 263
Experienced
Orphaned and poor
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 48
staff officers established 置佐史
Authorized staff officers · Granted
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 97
Granted
Leave
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 207
Held
High rank and ample stipend · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 215
Held
High office
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 208, 215
Ordered
Reduced court attendance
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 206
Reported
AD 531 中大通三年 · Illness
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 318
dismissed over an official matter 以公事免
Dismissal · Dismissed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 54

Places and affiliations

Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passages 1-2
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 61, 63, 167, 179, 184, 204, 263, 272, 281, 316, 318
Polity Qi 齊 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 306
Polity Southern Qi 南齊 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passages 51-52, 56
At Donghai 東海
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 237
At Tan in Donghai 東海郯
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 45

Show 5 more source-backed claims

At eastern fields garden 東田小園 · Relation Owned
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 224, 234, 242
At Eastern Palace 東宮 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 76
At Qingming Gate residence 清明門宅 · Relation Residence
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 226, 228
At suburban garden 郊間之園 · Relation Sold
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 234
At tomb 墓 · Relation Buried at
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passage 309

Learning and skills

Institution Imperial University 國子 · Student
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 51
classical learning 經術
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 315
classics and histories 經史
Relation Studied
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 103
devoted himself to study 篤志好學
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 50
Earned
Credential high grade in archery-and-policy examination 射策舉高第
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 53
Belief Buddhism 釋氏之教 · Relation Cites
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 244

Show 9 more source-backed claims

Belief Buddhist teaching 釋教 · Relation Engaged with
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 307
Belief Confucian teaching 儒典 · Relation Cites
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 245
Belief Confucian teaching 孔教 · Relation Engaged with
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 307
Skill official documents and correspondence 尺牘 · Level adept
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 71
Skill knowledge of the various clans and their taboo names 該綜百氏，皆爲避諱 · Level comprehensive
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 72
Skill knowledge of earlier historical records 多識前載 · Level extensive
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 103
Skill literary composition 文 · Level praised-in-childhood
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 49
Skill formal speech and rhetoric 辭令 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 71
Skill literary composition 屬文 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 302

Works and attributed material

Answer to the Guest's Remonstrance 答客喻
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 272-273
Regulations and Commentaries on Military Rites 軍禮儀注
AD 510 天監九年十月二十九日 · Relation Compiler submitter
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 181
Regulations and Commentaries on Celebratory Rites 嘉禮儀注
AD 507 天監六年五月七日 · Relation Compiler submitter
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 179
Regulations and Commentaries on Guest Rites 賓禮儀注
AD 507 天監六年五月二十日 · Relation Compiler submitter
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 180
Five Rites ritual corpus 五禮儀注
AD 507 to AD 512 天監六年至十一年 · Relation Compiler
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 178-179, 183, 198
Regulations and Commentaries on Inauspicious Rites 凶禮儀注
AD 512 天監十一年十一月十七日 · Relation Compiler submitter
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 183

Show 26 more source-backed claims

Regulations and Commentaries on Auspicious Rites 吉禮儀注
AD 512 天監十一年十一月十日 · Relation Compiler submitter
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 182
Prayer Texts for the Imperial Ancestral Temple 太廟祝文
AD 479 to AD 502 齊時 · Relation Compiler · Quantity Scrolls: 2
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 306
Anthology of Women 婦人集
Relation Compiler · Quantity Scrolls: 10
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 308
Collected Works in two series 前後二集
Relation Author · Quantity Scrolls: 45
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 308
Memorials of Impeachment by the Left Assistant Director 左丞彈事
Relation Author · Quantity Scrolls: 5
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 304
Ranks of Selection 選品
Relation Compiler · Quantity Scrolls: 5
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 305
Forest of Convergences 會林
Relation Compiler · Quantity Scrolls: 50
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 307
Classified Daily Records 流別起居注
Relation Compiler · Quantity Scrolls: 600
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 303
Answer to the Guest's Remonstrance 答客喻
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 272
Record of Rites, Questions on Mourning 禮記問喪
Relation Cited
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 85
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · About Person Id Kong Xiuyuan (孔休源)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 36, passage 20
memorial on revising the Five Rites 修五禮表
AD 525 普通六年 · Memorial · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 105-118
Answer to the Guest's Remonstrance 答客喻
Essay · Author · Direct quotation · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 274-283
Letter reply · Author · Direct quotation · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 284-301
Letter · Author · With Shen Yue (沈約) · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 81
Letter · Author · With Xu Song (徐崧) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 213-223
Letter · Author · With Eldest son of Xu Mian · Paraphrased · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 224-271
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝) · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 205
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 178-198
Memorial · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 85-95
Memorial · Author · Quote Status narrated
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 135, 147, 167-168
Quotation · Citer · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Source Work ancient saying 古人
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 217-218
Speech · Speaker · With Wang Yuanchang (王元長)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 57
Speech · Speaker · With Yu Hao (虞皓) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 73
Speech · Addressee · Direct quotation · Mode named-source-report Source Work students' remonstrance 門人進言
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 276-283
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 68-69, 210-212; Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 238

Events and relationships

Again pressed to resign
Petition · Petitioner
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 207
Answered students and old friends on inheritance
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 209-212
Appointed with Shen Yue and Zhang Chong
Scholarly · Joint overseer
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 167
Asked to exchange for lecturing attendant
Political · Petitioner · With Shen Yue (沈約) · Outcome Edict refused then accepted
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 81
Associated with
Political · Associate · With Xiao Yi (長沙宣武王)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 59
Became famous after Rong disaster
Reputation · Subject
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 240

Show 48 more source-backed claims

Built two houses for descendants
Construction · Builder · At east side 東邊
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 234
Ceased mourning and returned to duties
Mourning · Mourner · With Xu Fei (徐悱)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 301
Ceded western portion
Property · Donor · At Xuanwu Temple 宣武寺
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 228
Completed fair copies for Secret Archive and Five Classics keeper
AD 524 普通五年二月 · Scholarly · Compiler
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 184
spontaneously composed a piece of writing praised by elders 率爾爲文，見稱耆宿
Scholarly · Author · Composed text during rain prayer
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 49
Answer to the Guest's Remonstrance 答客喻
AD 524 普通五年春二月丁丑 · Literary · Author · Composed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 272
Crown prince held mourning in court hall
Funeral · Mourned · With Crown Prince (皇太子)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 327
Declined honor four times
Political · Nominee
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 80
Divided remaining property
Bequest · Donor · With Eldest son of Xu Mian
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 243
Foresaw disaster
AD 493 俄而元長及禍 · Political · Observer · With Wang Yuanchang (王元長)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passages 57-58
Held appointment scales from minor selection to high office
Administrative · Selector
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 100
Impeached many cases
Legal · Official
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 62
Imperial carriage visited bier
AD 535 大同元年 · Funeral · Deceased · With Gaozu (高祖)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 324
Classic of Filial Piety 孝經
Scholarly · Lecturer and text holder · Lectured on and held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 79
Managed military correspondence
Military · Administrator
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 65-66
Nominated successor
Recommendation · Recommender · With He Jingrong (何敬容)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 37, passage 46
Ordered to manage palace affairs
Administrative · Manager · With Zhaoming Heir Apparent (昭明太子)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 77
Participated in planning court ritual and state institutions
Ritual · Deliberator
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 104
Petitioned three day encoffinement rule
Ritual · Memorialist · Outcome Edict approved
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 85, 94-96
Petitioned to halt imperial visits due to inability to prostrate
Court · Petitioner · With Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 322
Presented himself
AD 501 義兵至京邑 · Political · Presenter · At Xinlin 新林 · With High Ancestor (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 60
Received death news
AD 524 普通五年春二月丁丑 · Mourning · Bereaved father · With Xu Fei (徐悱)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 274-275
Received palace inquiries and treasury provisions
Court · Recipient
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 320-321
Received separate edict for overall charge
Scholarly · Overall supervisor
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 168
Rejected proposals for estates inns shipping and trade
Refusal · Agent · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 221-223
Repeatedly sought to resign palace office
Political · Petitioner · Outcome Gracious edicts refused
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 83
Requested release from inner court duties
Petition · Petitioner · Cause illness 疾
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 205
Reviewed military rites ahead of imperial personal leadership of the armies
Ritual administration · Responsible official
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 195
Shared responsibility for major appointments
AD 503 天監二年 · Administrative · Participant
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 63
Sold suburban garden
AD 520 to AD 524 年時朽暮 · Sale · Seller · With Wei An (韋黯) · Outcome obtained a hundred gold pieces 獲百金
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 234
Staff officers established
AD 531 中大通三年 · Administrative · Subject
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 318
Stele authorized at tomb
AD 537 大同三年 · Commemorative · Honoree · With Liu Lan (劉覽)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 309
Regulations and Commentaries on Military Rites 軍禮儀注
AD 510 天監九年十月二十九日 · Documentary submission · Submitter · Submitted to Secretariat
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 181
Regulations and Commentaries on Celebratory Rites 嘉禮儀注
AD 507 天監六年五月七日 · Documentary submission · Submitter · Submitted to Secretariat
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 179
Regulations and Commentaries on Guest Rites 賓禮儀注
AD 507 天監六年五月二十日 · Documentary submission · Submitter · Submitted to Secretariat
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 180
Regulations and Commentaries on Inauspicious Rites 凶禮儀注
AD 512 天監十一年十一月十七日 · Documentary submission · Submitter · Submitted to Secretariat
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 183
Regulations and Commentaries on Auspicious Rites 吉禮儀注
AD 512 天監十一年十一月十日 · Documentary submission · Submitter · Submitted to Secretariat
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 25, passage 182
Trusted attendants increased by forty
Administrative · Beneficiary
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 319
Wrote admonitory letter
Epistolary · Author · With Xu Song (徐崧)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 213
Relation Teacher of · Group students 門人
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 276
Relation Assessed by · Person Wang Jian (王儉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 52
Relation Client of · Person High Ancestor (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 59-60
Relation Advisor to · Person Zhaoming Heir Apparent (昭明太子)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 78
Relation Colleague of · Person Yu Yuling (庾於陵)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 169
Relation Predecessor of · Person He Jingrong (何敬容)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 37, passage 46
Relation Colleague of · Person Zhou She (周捨)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 169
Relation Acquaintance sought by · Person Wang Yuanchang (王元長)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 56
Relation Associate of · Person Xiao Yi (長沙宣武王)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 59

Assessments and attributes

Assessment family traditionally honest and lived in plain poverty · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 214
Assessment favored by the court; heavy responsibility · Mode quotation Source Work students 門人
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 281
Assessment fit for office · Mode named-source-report Source Work public opinion of the time 時論
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 62
Assessment had the makings of a chief minister · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Wang Jian (王儉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 52
Assessment held high office without accumulating estate; divided salary among poor kinsmen · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 208
Assessment impartial; without private interest · Mode named-source-report Source Work people of the time 時人
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 74

Show 20 more source-backed claims

Assessment in youth disciplined will, cultivated character, careful in speech and companions · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Yao Cha (姚察)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 314
Assessment keen foresight · Mode public-opinion
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 58
Assessment Master Wang's fame is high but his prospects are short-lived; one should not lightly trail in his wake · Mode speech Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 57
Assessment Master Wang's fame is high but his prospects are short · Mode named-person-judgment Source Person Id Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 238
Assessment mediocre understanding undeservedly entrusted; lingered many years bearing the charge · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 193-194
Assessment owed eminence to forebears' example and inherited fortune rather than own talent · Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 216
Assessment pillar minister of Liang who held the balance even · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Yao Cha (姚察)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 316
Assessment profound grief at son's death · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 272
Assessment promoted beyond usual measure because of longstanding favor; devoted wholly to the throne · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 99
Assessment unwilling to neglect state business long for mourning · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 272
Assessment won the deep respect of scholars · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 100
Never disclosed matters from within the palace offices; always burned draft manuscripts of memorials
Conduct
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 101-102
worsening foot ailment causing prolonged absence from court
Illness · 腳疾
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 207
Labored day and night on military documents; often returned home only after several tens of days, so household dogs barked at him as a stranger
Work habit
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 66-67
While documents piled up and guests filled the hall, he answered fluently without stopping his brush
Work habit
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 71
Item estate and household savings 產業、蓄積 · Relation Refused to accumulate · Negated true
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 208, 214, 222
Item hundred gold pieces 百金 · Relation Obtained
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 234
Item imperial coffin from Dongyuan 東園秘器 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 325
Item one set of court robes and one suit of clothes 朝服一具，衣一襲 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 325
Item two hundred thousand cash and one hundred bolts of cloth 錢二十萬，布百匹 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 326

Source notes

Historicity historical
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passage 2
Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passages 60, 167-168, 193, 200, 272; Book of Liang 37, passages 17, 46
nearly thirty years in prominence by the time of the admonitory letter
Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 221
officials who served before and after him on the project had all died; he alone survived and old age was approaching
Mode self-report Speaker Xu Mian (徐勉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 198
did not pursue household assets after taking charge; later built a villa contrary to old practice 爲家已來，不事資產，旣立墅舍，以乖舊業
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 262
held the garden twenty years before selling it 此園有之二十載矣
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 242