CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Yu Shinan虞世南
Wrote inscriptions.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 7
- RELATION RECORDS
- 9
- SOURCE WORKS
- 3
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Yu Shinan, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
4 figures · 5 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Li Shimin→Yu Shinanask
Yu Shinan—Emperor Yang of Suiruler-subject
Yu Shinan→Li Yuanadmonish
Yu Shinan—Chu Suiliangcolleague
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
2 figures · 2 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Yu Shinan→Yuwen Huajiplead
Yu Shinan→Dou Jiandecapture
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Chu Suiliang→Yu Shinanask
Xu Jingzong→Yu Shinansuggest
8 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Old Book of Tang
Wrote inscriptions. He was Silver Qing Guanglu大夫 and Duke of Yongxing County, and died.
In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang
As a secretary, drafted edicts and wrote poems.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Official history21 profile notes
Old Book of Tang
4 relations12 verified quotations- Li Shimin→ ask →Yu Shinan
- Yu Shinan→ ruler-subject →Li Shimin
- Xu Jingzong→ suggest →Yu Shinan
- Yu Shinan→ plead →Yuwen Huaji
Verified original text · 12
太宗问秘书监虞世南曰
ask · Old Book of Tang, 五行志
精选天下文儒之士虞世南、褚亮、姚思廉等，各以本官兼署学士
act as scholar · Old Book of Tang, 儒学传上
10 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
Romance of Sui and Tang
1 relations1 verified quotations- Yu Shinan→ ruler-subject →Emperor Yang of Sui
Verified original text · 1
宣虞世南，立等观文殿见驾
ruler-subject · Romance of Sui and Tang, 036
- Official history15 profile notes
New Book of Tang
8 relations9 verified quotations- Li Shimin→ ask →Yu Shinan
- Yu Shinan→ ruler-subject →Li Shimin
- Yu Shinan→ admonish →Li Yuan
- Yu Shinan→ ruler-subject →Emperor Yang of Sui
Verified original text · 9
手诏虞世南勒文于碑
ruler-subject · New Book of Tang, 房玄龄玄龄次子 遗爱杜如晦如晦弟 楚客如晦叔父 淹如晦五世孙 元颖元颖从子 审权等传
后令魏徵与员外散骑常侍褚亮、员外散骑常侍虞世南、太子右庶子李百药更制歌辞
命制辞 · New Book of Tang, 礼乐志十一
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
In the official history, Yu Shinan served in the Sui Dynasty with integrity but was not given important positions; the novel fictionalizes Emperor Yang of Sui ordering him to compose a poem to tease Yuan Bao'er.
The New Book of Tang, Biography of Yu Shinan, records that Yu Shinan served as a secretary in the Sui Dynasty, and 'although Emperor Yang appreciated his talent, he disliked his sternness and did not employ him much; he remained at the seventh rank for ten years without promotion.' There is no record of a romantic poem composed in the emperor's presence. In the Romance of Sui and Tang, Chapter 36, which elaborates on palace romantic anecdotes, it is written that Emperor Yang saw Yuan Bao'er gazing at Yu Shinan and ordered him to compose a poem to tease her. Yu Shinan immediately wrote, 'Learning to paint yellow brows, not yet finished; with drooping shoulders and trailing sleeves, too naive.' Emperor Yang jokingly said he would give Bao'er to him as a concubine, causing her to throw herself into a pond. This is purely fictional.
Relationship network
- ask← Li Shimin → Yu Shinanhist × litNew Book of Tang, 房玄龄玄龄次子 遗爱杜如晦如晦弟 楚客如晦叔父 淹如晦五世孙 元颖元颖从子 审权等传New Book of Tang, 礼乐志十一New Book of Tang, 西域传下Old Book of Tang, 五行志Old Book of Tang, 儒学传上Old Book of Tang, 天文志下Old Book of Tang, 房玄龄杜如晦传Old Book of Tang, 西戎传Old Book of Tang, 音乐志二
Original text (8)
太宗问秘书监虞世南曰
精选天下文儒之士虞世南、褚亮、姚思廉等，各以本官兼署学士
Original relation: act as scholar · Old Book of Tang, 儒学传上
太宗谓侍臣曰：“是何妖也？”
Original relation: ask · Old Book of Tang, 天文志下
太宗手诏著作郎虞世南曰
Original relation: command · Old Book of Tang, 房玄龄杜如晦传
命秘书监虞世南为之赋
Original relation: 命赋 · Old Book of Tang, 西戎传
李百药、虞世南、褚亮、魏徵等制歌辞
Original relation: 命制歌辞 · Old Book of Tang, 音乐志二
手诏虞世南勒文于碑
Original relation: ruler-subject · New Book of Tang, 房玄龄玄龄次子 遗爱杜如晦如晦弟 楚客如晦叔父 淹如晦五世孙 元颖元颖从子 审权等传
后令魏徵与员外散骑常侍褚亮、员外散骑常侍虞世南、太子右庶子李百药更制歌辞
Original relation: 命制辞 · New Book of Tang, 礼乐志十一
- ruler-subjectYu Shinan → Li Shiminhist × litNew Book of Tang, 岑文本孙 羲从子 长倩附 格辅元虞世南李百药子 安期褚亮附 刘孝孙附 李玄道等传Old Book of Tang, 五行志Old Book of Tang, 天文志下Old Book of Tang, 虞世南李百药褚亮传Old Book of Tang, 音乐志一
Original text (5)
对曰
Original relation: respond · Old Book of Tang, 五行志
虞世南对曰：“齐景公时，有彗星。晏子对曰：‘公穿池畏不深，筑台恐不高，行刑恐不重，是以彗为诫耳。’景公惧而修德，十六日而星灭。臣闻若德政不修，麟凤数见，无所补也；苟政教无阙，虽有灾愆，何损于时。伏愿陛下勿以功高古人而矜大，勿乙太平日久而骄逸，慎终如始，彗何足忧。”
Original relation: admonish · Old Book of Tang, 天文志下
太宗重其博识，每机务之隙，引之谈论
Original relation: admonish minister · Old Book of Tang, 虞世南李百药褚亮传
令魏徵、虞世南、褚亮、李百药改制歌辞
Original relation: 改制歌辞 · Old Book of Tang, 音乐志一
太宗尝曰
Original text (1)
- ruler-subjectYu Shinan → Emperor Yang of SuilitNew Book of Tang, 岑文本孙 羲从子 长倩附 格辅元虞世南李百药子 安期褚亮附 刘孝孙附 李玄道等传Romance of Sui and Tang, 036
Original text (2)
炀帝虽爱其才，然疾峭正
宣虞世南，立等观文殿见驾
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
尝问虞世南曰
Original text (1)
许敬宗因谓世南曰
- pleadYu Shinan → Yuwen Huajihist × litNew Book of Tang, 岑文本孙 羲从子 长倩附 格辅元虞世南李百药子 安期褚亮附 刘孝孙附 李玄道等传Old Book of Tang, 虞世南李百药褚亮传
Original text (2)
世南抱持号泣，请以身代
宇文化及已弑帝，间杀世基
Original relation: enemy · New Book of Tang, 岑文本孙 羲从子 长倩附 格辅元虞世南李百药子 安期褚亮附 刘孝孙附 李玄道等传