Yan Silu

Yan Silu is the son of Yan Zhitui.^[2] He is a native of Linyi, Langya Commandery.^[3] Yan wrote the preface to his father's anthology.^[4] He was born in Jiangling and moved to Dunhuafang, Chang'an, Jingzhao in the early Sui Dynasty. Yan was the elder brother of Yan Minchu and Yan Youqin.^[4][5]

Skilled in producing compositions, Yan was particularly good at exegesis and was a scholar of Confucianism.^[3][6] The historian of education Shen Guanqun [zh] praised Yan for being "erudite and good at writing".^[7] On the topic of scripture meanings, Yan engaged Liu Zhen [zh] in a debate.^[3] In the Sui dynasty, he served as a secretary for the Department of Economics and was a scholar of the Eastern Palace.^[3] Yan also served as attendant to the prince Yang Yan [zh], the son of Yang Yong.^[3] At the beginning of the Tang dynasty, he joined the army in a clerk role [zh].^[7] Yan was chosen to be an assistant during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang and later received a general title (Chinese: 踰岷將軍).^[3]

Yan married the daughter of the doctor Yin Yingtong (Chinese: 殷英童).^[3] The book "Yin Yingtong Collection" (殷英童集) refers to a "Yan son-in-law", which is him.^[3] Over 20 of Yan's songs and poems are included in the collection.^[3]