Biography

Yan was born in Wannian (萬年, 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 (顏思鲁), 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 (李綱), 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 顏元孫 (the author of Ganlu Zishu) and Yan Zhenqing (a famous 8th-century calligrapher, Yuansun's nephew), were his descendants.

生平

父親為顏思魯，母親是殷英童的女兒。自小博覽群書，尤精訓詁。隋末仁壽年間由李綱薦舉為安養縣尉，唐初歷任朝散大夫、中書舍人、中書侍郎、秘書監、弘文館學士等。

貞觀四年（630年）唐太宗詔顏師古于秘書省，考定五經，確定楷體文字，撰成《五經定本》，房玄齡諸儒對此書大加論議，師古「輒引晉、宋已來古今本，隨言曉答，援據詳明，皆出其意表，諸儒莫不嘆服」。後奉太子李承乾之命註釋《漢書》。顏師古注《漢書》時，曾指出二十七卷本「非今所有家語」。有專家指出顏師古偷竊叔父顏游秦的《漢書抉疑》來注《漢書》。貞觀十九年（645年），隨軍征遼東，途中病卒。

配殷氏，生三子：顏趨庭、顏揚庭、顏光庭。女顏頎（641年—677年），字女英，嫁殷仲容。

注釋

參考書目

• 申屠爐明《孔穎達、顏師古評傳》