Biography

Yan was born in Wannian (万年, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi). His ancestors were originally from Langye (琅邪, in modern Linyi, Shandong). Yan's grandfather Yan Zhitui was an official under the Northern Qi. After the fall of Northern Qi, Zhitui became an official of the Northern Zhou, and moved his family to Guanzhong. His son Yan Silu (颜思鲁), Yan's father, was also an official, and served in the residence of Li Shimin.

Yan was well-read during his youth and was familiar with philology. Recommended by Li Gang (李纲), he was given a post at Anyang county (now Xiangyang, Hubei) during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui. One of his father's old friends, Xue Daoheng (薛道衡), was impressed by Yan's talent, and often asked for his comments on his new works. For some reason, Yan Shigu was later dismissed, and took up residence at Chang'an. During the next ten years he lived in poverty and taught for a living. He was later granted several important official posts during the Tang dynasty. Yan was promoted when Li Shimin ascended the throne, but resumed his duty after his mother's funeral.

After years of struggle, Yan was then demoted, but was subsequently ordered to revise the Five Classics in the library. He wrote commentaries on several Chinese classic texts such as the Shiji and Hanshu. According to New Book of Tang, he died on the road during an expedition to Goguryeo in 645.

Yan Yuansun 颜元孙 (the author of Ganlu Zishu) and Yan Zhenqing (a famous 8th-century calligrapher, Yuansun's nephew), were his descendants.

生平

父亲为颜思鲁，母亲是殷英童的女儿。自小博览群书，尤精训诂。隋末仁寿年间由李纲荐举为安养县尉，唐初历任朝散大夫、中书舍人、中书侍郎、秘书监、弘文馆学士等。

贞观四年（630年）唐太宗诏颜师古于秘书省，考定五经，确定楷体文字，撰成《五经定本》，房玄龄诸儒对此书大加论议，师古「辄引晋、宋已来古今本，随言晓答，援据详明，皆出其意表，诸儒莫不叹服」。后奉太子李承乾之命注释《汉书》。颜师古注《汉书》时，曾指出二十七卷本「非今所有家语」。有专家指出颜师古偷窃叔父颜游秦的《汉书抉疑》来注《汉书》。贞观十九年（645年），随军征辽东，途中病卒。

配殷氏，生三子：颜趋庭、颜扬庭、颜光庭。女颜颀（641年—677年），字女英，嫁殷仲容。

注释

参考书目

• 申屠炉明《孔颖达、颜师古评传》