Yan Hui (顏回) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yan Hui was a Disciple of Confucius celebrated as his foremost student.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Yan Yuan	顏淵	Yán Yuān
Courtesy name	Yuan	淵
Alternate name	Yan Zi	顏子	Yan Zi

Life and dates

Death

BC 481 顏淵死
Died
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 372
Died young
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 59, passage 57; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 40

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · History of Yuan 171, passage 115
BC 521 to BC 481 BC 521-481
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 32, passage 79
BC 521 to BC 481 undated anecdote about Yan Yuan
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passages 39-40, 59
BC 520 to BC 480 孔門弟子之世
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 283
BC 521 to BC 481 希顏
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passage 144
BC 521 to BC 481 德行顏、閔
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passage 176

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BC 521 to BC 481 昔顏子
Strongly inferred · History of Song 339, passage 348
BC 551 to BC 479 春秋之世
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 91, passage 55
BC 521 to BC 481 登孔、顥
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 216
BC 500 祖述回、騫
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 30, passage 201
c. BC 481 量交
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 14, passage 242
BC 521 to BC 481 顏、閔之極摯
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 86
BC 521 to BC 481 顏回，孔子弟子
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 75, passages 92, 95
BC 521 to BC 481 顏回
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 59, passage 57
BC 521 to BC 481 顏回（孔門弟子）
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 35, passages 249-250
BC 521 to BC 481 顏子
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 21, passage 85
BC 521 to BC 481 顏子之行
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 5
BC 521 to BC 481 顏淵
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 104, passage 83
BC 481 顏淵死
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passage 372
BC 521 to BC 481 顏淵簞食瓢飲
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 103, passage 45
BC 521 to BC 481 颜耽乐于箪瓢
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 262

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Endured
Poverty
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 40

Places and affiliations

Polity Lu 魯 · Relation Associated
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passage 372
Polity Lu 魯 · Relation Belonged to
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 59, passage 57
Polity Lu 魯 · Relation Lived in
Strongly inferred · History of Song 339, passage 348
Polity Lu 魯 · Relation Lived under
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 75, passage 95
Organization the seventy disciples 七十子之徒 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 39

Events and relationships

Delighted in a basket of rice and a gourd of water
Personal · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 262
Paired with Confucius as ascent model
Exemplum · Exemplar
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 216
Relation Student of · Person Confucius (孔子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passages 45, 47; Book of Later Han 75, passage 95; History of Jin 35, passages 32, 249; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 39; New History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 5
Relation Student of · Person Confucius (孔子)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passages 86, 216, 262; Book of Liang 30, passage 201

Assessments and attributes

Assessment exemplary virtuous conduct requiring Confucius for fame · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 5
Assessment had talent of the highest wisdom yet died young · Mode quotation Speaker Sun Deng (孫登)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 59, passage 57
Assessment loved learning and did not repeat a fault · Mode named-source-report Source Work Analects 論語
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 95
Assessment loved learning · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Confucius (孔子)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 39
Assessment model for virtue and conduct among the four categories · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Yao Cha (姚察)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 201
Assessment only this one man could match Yi Yin and Lü Wang · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Liu Xin (劉歆)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 374

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Assessment self-sufficient with bamboo basket; knowing fate and joyful · Mode quotation Speaker Yelu Mengjian (耶律孟簡)
Directly stated · History of Liao 104, passage 83
Assessment studied with utmost devotion; conduct made prominent by attaching to the Master · With Confucius (孔子) · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 59
Assessment true exemplar · Mode speaker-judgment Speaker Host (主人)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 262
Assessment virtuous talent treated as dust when powerless · Mode quoted-source Speaker Liu Jun (劉峻)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passages 242-243

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 17; Book of Han 75, passage 283; Records of the Three Kingdoms 59, passage 57; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 39

References in the histories

Search passages

History

35 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 5Volume 5 Annals 5: Emperor Fei · 1 passage

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太子曰：「顏子縮屋稱貞，柳下嫗而不亂，未若此翁白首不娶者也。」 The crown prince said, "Yan Hui was praised for chastity though he lived in a hovel, and Liu Xiahui kept his integrity though he shared a blanket with a woman—but neither can match this old man who has never married even to white hair."

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 1 passage

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祖浚燕南贅客，河朔惰游，本無意于希顏，豈有心于慕藺。 Zujun is a superfluous guest south of Yan, an idle wanderer of the northern Yellow River region; I never intended to emulate Yan Hui, nor had any mind to admire Lin Xiangru.

Book of Han, Chapter 65Volume 56: Dong Zhongshu · 2 passages

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故顏淵死，孔子曰『噫！ When Yan Hui died, Confucius cried, "Alas!

唯此一人為能當之，自宰我、子贛、子游、子夏不與焉。 Only Hui could stand beside them—not Zaiwo, Zigong, Ziyou, or Zixia.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 1 passage

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興事父母有曾氏之孝，事師有顏閔之材，榮名聞於四方。 He honors his parents with the devotion of Zeng Shen, serves his teachers with the gifts of Yan Hui and Min Sun, and his good name rings through the realm.

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 1 passage

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譬若以周、邵為丞相，孔丘為御史大夫，太公為將軍，畢公高拾遺於後，弁嚴子為衛尉，皋陶為大理，後稷為司農，伊尹為少府，子贛使外國，顏、閔為博士，子夏為太常，益為右扶風，季路為執金吾，契為鴻臚，龍逢為宗正，伯夷為京兆，管仲為馮翊，魯般為將作，仲山甫為光祿，申伯為太僕，延陵季子為水衡，百里奚為典屬國，柳下惠為大長秋，史魚為司直，蘧伯玉為太傅，孔父為詹事，孫叔敖為諸侯相，子產為郡守，王慶忌為期門，夏育為鼎官，羿為旄頭，宋萬為式道候。」 Imagine the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao as your chancellors; Confucius as chief censor; the Grand Duke as commander; Duke Bi Gao as court remonstrant; Bian Zhuangzi as captain of the guard; Gao Yao as chief judge; Hou Ji as minister of agriculture; Yi Yin as palace treasurer; Zigong as foreign envoy; Yan Hui and Min Ziqian as court scholars; Zixia as master of rites; Yi as western capital intendant; Zilu as capital commandant; Xie as master of guest ceremonies; Guan Longpeng as keeper of the imperial genealogy; the minister Boyi as metropolitan governor; Guan Zhong as northern capital intendant; Lu Ban as chief engineer; Zhong Shanfu as palace chamberlain; the Earl of Shen as master of the horse; Prince Jizi of Yanling as keeper of parks and waters; Baili Xi as commissioner for dependent peoples; Liuxia Hui as chamberlain to the empress; Shi Yu as censor of conduct; Qu Boyu as grand tutor; Kong Fu as supervisor of the heir apparent's household; Sunshu Ao as chancellor to the feudal lords; Zichan as commandery governor; Prince Qingji as a palace gate guard; Xia Yu as cauldron officer; Yi the Archer as vanguard officer; and Song Wan as road-clearing scout."

Book of Han, Chapter 91Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan · 1 passage

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子高素有顏、冉之資，臧武之智，子貢之辯，卞莊子之勇，兼此四者，世之所鮮。 You have Yan Hui’s and Ran Boniu’s gifts, Zang Wuzhong’s wit, Zigong’s tongue, and Bian Zhuangzi’s nerve—four virtues seldom met in one man.

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 2 passages

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仲尼之後，訖於漢道，德行顏、閔、股肱蕭、曹，□及名將尊卑之條，稱述品藻。 From Confucius down to Han times—Yan Hui and Min Ziqian for virtue, Xiao He and Cao Shen as arms of state, and the ranking of celebrated generals—each is weighed and characterized.

撰《淵騫》第十一。 Book XI, 《Yuan and Qian》.

Book of Han, Chapter 103Volume 91: Usurers · 2 passages

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七十子之徒，賜最為饒，而顏淵簞食瓢飲，在於陋巷。 Of the Master's seventy followers, Zigong alone grew truly rich, while Yan Hui lived on a bowl of grain and a dipper of water down a shabby alley.

然孔子賢顏淵而譏子贛，曰：「回也其庶乎，屢空。 Yet the Master praised Yan Hui and chided Zigong, saying, "Hui is close to perfection, yet he is repeatedly in want.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 3 passages

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今吾子已貫仁誼之羈絆，繫名聲之韁鎖，伏周、孔之軌躅，馳顏、閔之極摯，既繫攣於世教矣，何用大道為自眩曜？ Now you, sir, have already put on the fetters of benevolence and duty and tied yourself to the reins and locks of reputation. You crouch in the tracks of the Duke of Zhou and Confucius and race toward the utmost earnestness of Yan Hui and Min Ziqian; since you are already bound fast by worldly teaching, why use the great Way merely to dazzle yourself?

登孔、顥而上下兮，緯群龍之所經，朝貞觀而夕化兮，猶諠己而遺形，若胤彭而偕老兮，訴來哲以通情。 Climb the heights of Confucius and Yan Hui, follow the dragons' tracks, wake to the true pattern by dusk though ego still chatters, shed the shell, and if you walk with Peng Zu into age, leave a thread of feeling for sages yet unborn.

若乃夷抗行於首陽，惠降志於辱仕，顏耽樂於簞瓢，孔終篇於西狩，聲盈塞於天淵，真吾徒之師表也。 Then there were Boyi, who upheld his conduct on Mount Shouyang; Liuxia Hui, who humbled his aspirations to take a dishonorable post; Yan Hui, who delighted in his basket of rice and gourd of water; and Confucius, who brought his classic to an end with the hunt in the west. Their fame fills the space between heaven and the abyss; they are truly exemplars for men such as us.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

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卑衛賜之阜貨兮，高顏回之所慕； I scorn Zigong's clever wealth and lift what Yan Hui loved;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 75Volume 68: Biographies of Guo, Fu, Xu · 2 passages

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蘧瑗、顏回尚不能無過，況其餘乎？ Even Qu Boyu and Yan Hui slipped sometimes—what mortal does not?

又曰：「顏回好學，不貳過。」〉 "And Yan Hui "never made the same mistake twice.")〉

History of Jin, Chapter 35Volume 35 Treatises 16: Rites 8: Consecration of Shrines to a Sages; Temple to the Warrior King Cheng of Zhou; Monarchs of Past Ages; Halls to Various Spirits in Changbai Shan, Dafang Shan, Amur River, Jia Yin Hou; Spirits of the Lu River; Spirits of Zhao Yin Shun; Spirits of Zhen an Gong, Rui Shen Gongl; Worshipping, Sacrifices, Vists, and State Ceremonies at Zhen Xian Jun Wang Temple · 5 passages

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兼兗國公親承聖教者也，鄒國公功扶聖教者也，當于宣聖像左右列之。 Moreover, the Lord of Yan personally received the sage's teaching, and the Lord of Zou by merit supported the sage's teaching—they should be set to the left and right of the image of the Sagely Proclaimed One.

今孟子以燕服在後堂，宣聖像側還虛一位，禮宜遷孟子像于宣聖右，與顏子相對，改塑冠冕，妝飾法服，一遵舊制。」 Now Mencius, in everyday dress, is in the rear hall; beside the image of the Sagely Proclaimed One one place still stands empty; by ritual Mencius's image ought to be moved to the right of the Sagely Proclaimed One, facing Yanzi across from him, with crowns and caps remolded and ritual robes adorned, all following the old regulations."

禮官參酌唐《開元禮》，定擬釋奠儀數：文宣王、兗國公、鄒國公每位籩豆各十、犧尊一、象尊一、簠簋各二、俎二、祝板各一、皆設案。 Drawing on the Tang dynasty's Kaiyuan Rites, the ritual officers laid down the prescribed offerings for the Confucian libation: Confucius as Cultured Sagely King, Yan Hui as Lord of Yan, and Mencius as Lord of Zou each received ten bian and ten dou vessels, one sacrificial wine vessel, one elephant-decorated vessel, two fu and gui grain stands, two meat boards, and one prayer tablet apiece, all arranged on dedicated tables.

兗國公酌獻，姑洗宮《輯甯之曲》，辭曰：「聖師之門，顏惟居上。 For the Lord of Yan's offering pour, the "Song of Gathered Peace" in the Guxian mode was sung; its words run: "At the Sagely Master's gate, Yan alone stands foremost.

宣宗遷汴，建廟會朝門內，歲祀如儀，宣聖、顏、孟各羊一、豕一，餘同小祀，共用羊八，無豕。 When Emperor Xuanzong moved the capital to Bian, a temple was built inside the Gate of Assembly, and annual sacrifices followed the established regulations. Confucius, Yan Hui, and Mencius each received one sheep and one pig; the remainder followed the minor sacrifice format, eight sheep in all and no pigs.

Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 1 passage

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若衡不能舉，纊不能飛，雖顏、冉龍翰鳳＜芻鳥＞，曾、史，蘭熏雪白，舒、向金玉，淵海卿、雲，黼黻河漢，視若遊塵。 If the scale cannot lift and the gossamer cannot fly, though Yan and Ran had dragon sinews and phoenix pinions, Zeng and Shi orchid scent and snow-white, Shu and Xiang gold, jade, and the abyss-sea, Qing and Yun embroidery and the Milky Way—they are wandering dust.

Book of Liang, Chapter 30Volume 30: Pei Ziye; Gu Xie; Xu Chi; Bao Quan · 1 passage

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若夫憲章游、夏，祖述回、騫，體兼文行，於裴幾原見之矣。 In modeling oneself on Ziyou and Zixia, following in the footsteps of Yan Hui and Min Ziqian, and combining literary talent with moral conduct — all of this we see in Pei Jiyuan.

History of Liao, Chapter 104Volume 104 Biographies 34: Literature 2 · 1 passage

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是以顏淵簞瓢自得，此知命而樂者也。 Thus Yan Yuan with his bamboo basket was self-sufficient—this is knowing fate and finding joy in it.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 21Volume 21 Biographies 2: Crown Prince Wenhui · 1 passage

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夫孝理弘深，大賢方盡其致，何故不授顏子，而寄曾生？」 Filial piety runs wide and deep; only a great sage can reach its limit. Why not give it to Yan Hui, but lodge it with Master Zeng?"

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 59Volume 59: Book of Wu 14: Biographies of the Five Sons of the Lord of Wu · 1 passage

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臣聞死生有命，長短自天，周晉、顏回有上智之才，而尚夭折，況臣愚陋，年過其壽，生爲國嗣，沒享榮祚，於臣已多，亦何悲恨哉！ I know life and death are decreed and longevity is heaven's gift. Prince Jin of Zhou and Yan Hui were men of supreme intellect, yet they died young—how much more I, dull and obscure, who have already outlived my share, lived as your heir, and will depart with honors few could claim? What room is left for regret?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 61Biographies: Biography of Bo Yi · 3 passages

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且七十子之徒，仲尼獨薦顏淵為好學。 Moreover, among the seventy disciples, Confucius singled out Yan Yuan alone as one who loved learning.

然回也屢空，糟糠不厭，而卒蚤夭。 Yet Yan Hui often went hungry, did not reject coarse food, and ultimately died young.

顏淵雖篤學，附驥尾而行益顯。 Yan Yuan studied with utmost devotion; by attaching himself to a great steed's tail, his conduct became all the more prominent.

History of Song, Chapter 339Volume 339 Biographies 98: Su Zhezu and Grandson: Yuanlao · 1 passage

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元老歎曰：「昔顏子附驥尾而名顯，吾今以家世坐累，榮矣。」 Yuanlao sighed, "Yan Hui once rode a thoroughbred's tail to fame; I am now honored to suffer for my family name."

Book of Sui, Chapter 77Volume 77 Biographies 42: Recluses · 2 passages

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伯父魏岐州刺史瑒，深所嗟尚，每稱曰：「此兒吾家之顏子也。」 His uncle Yang, who served as Inspector of Qizhou in Wei, held him in deep admiration and would often say, "This boy is the Yan Hui of our house."

祖浚燕南贅客，河朔惰游，本無意于希顏，豈有心于慕藺！ Zujun is but an extra guest in the south and a lazy wanderer in the north; I never aspired to emulate Yan Hui—how could I dream of admiring Lin Xiangru!

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 34Volume 34 Biographies of Recluses 14: Zhen Gao, Shi Ang, Cheng Fuyun, Li Zilun · 1 passage

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自古材賢有韞於中而不見於外，或窮居陋巷，委身草莽，雖顏子之行，不遇仲尼而名不彰，況世變多故，而君子道消之時乎！ Talent often hides within and never shows without—men in poor lanes, lost in the wild. Even Yan Hui’s virtue needed Confucius to be known; how much more when the gentleman’s Way was fading in constant turmoil!

History of Yuan, Chapter 171Volume 171 Biographies 58: Liu Yin, Wu Cheng · 1 passage

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中古之統：仲尼其元，顏、曾其亨乎，子思其利，孟子其貞乎！ The lineage of middle antiquity: Confucius is the Origin, Yan Hui and Zeng Shen perhaps the Flourishing, Zisi the Advantage, Mencius the Steadfastness!