Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Tribal Leader

Yeyan 葉延

Yèyán

Attested AD 323 - AD 346

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Yeyan was a Tribal Leader.

Life and dates

Age

10
Reckoning Suitui · At childhood-revenge-ritual
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 38
33
Reckoning Suitui · At death
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 45

Attested activity

AD 323 to AD 346 嗣立二十三年，年三十三
Strongly inferred · Book of Song 96, passages 45, 60

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Yiluohan (弈洛韓)
great-grandson 曾孫 · paternal line · 3 generations
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 42
Parent of Suixi (碎奚)
eldest son 長子
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 47
Child of Tuyan (吐延)
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 31
Child of Mother of Yeyan
mother 母
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passages 39, 41

Kinship Role sons · Count 4
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 46

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Mode direct-quotation
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passages 40, 42-43

Events and relationships

Adopted clan surname Tuyuhun
Naming · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passages 42-44
Reigned
Political · Ruler · Duration Years 23
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 45
Shot grass effigy named Jiang Cong
Ritual · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 38

Assessments and attributes

Assessment profoundly filial · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Song 96, passage 41

References in the histories

Book of Song, Chapter 96Volume 96 Biographies 56: Xianbei and Tuyuhun Peoples · 6 passages

吐延身長七尺八寸，勇力過人，性刻暴，為昴城羌酋姜聰所刺，劍猶在體，呼子葉延，語其大將絕拔渥曰：[4]「吾氣絕，棺斂訖，便遠去保白蘭。 Tuyan stood seven feet eight inches tall, with courage and strength beyond ordinary men, but his nature was harsh and violent. The Qiang chieftain of Maocheng, Jiang Cong, stabbed him; the blade still stood in his body. He summoned his son Yeyan and told his great general Jueba Wo: [4] "When I am gone, once I am coffined, withdraw far away and secure Bailan.

葉延小，意乃欲授與餘人，恐倉卒終不能相制。 Yeyan is still young; I had considered passing rule to another, but I fear that in a sudden crisis he could not hold them in check.

今以葉延付汝，汝竭股肱之力以輔之，孺子得立，吾無恨矣。」 I now entrust Yeyan to you—give all your strength to support him. If the boy can be established in power, I shall die without regret."

葉延少而勇果，年十歲，縛草為人，號曰姜聰，每旦輒射之，射中則喜，不中則號叫泣涕。 Yeyan was brave and resolute from boyhood. At ten he bound grass into a human figure, named it Jiang Cong, and shot at it every morning—when he hit it he rejoiced; when he missed he wailed and wept.

葉延嗚咽不自勝，答母曰：「誠知無益，然葉延罔極之心，不勝其痛耳。」 Yeyan sobbed uncontrollably and answered, "I know it does no good, but my boundless grief for my father cannot bear the pain."

性至孝，母病，三日不能食，葉延亦不食。 He was profoundly filial: when his mother fell ill and could not eat for three days, Yeyan ate nothing either.