Lu Yanshi, courtesy name Yunfang, was from Linzhang, Weijun. His grandfather, Lu Xidao, served as the Inspector of Dingzhou, and his father, Lu Fuzi, also held important positions as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. The entire family was composed of high-ranking officials. Lu Yanshi was known for his upright character from a young age and received praise from the local prestigious families. As he grew up, he developed a love for learning and was skilled in writing. Later, he was recruited by Prince Yuanxu of Wei to serve as a military advisor. After his father's passing, he resigned from his official position to return home and mourn. He was overwhelmed with grief and almost lost the will to live. He lived next to the grave with his brother Lu Yang, personally burying his father. High-ranking officials at court greatly respected him and visited the grave to offer condolences, whether on the first and fifteenth of the month or at any other time. When Emperor Wenxuan of Qi heard about this, he highly praised Lu Yanshi and erected a memorial outside his home, naming their residence "Xiaozhongli."
Xing Shao, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat from Hejian, recommended him to the court. Before the court could respond, Prince Xiaoshu of Pengcheng became the Governor of Sizhou and appointed him as his registrar. Later, Lu Yanshi held many important positions in the court, such as the Grand Scholar of the East Pavilion. His brother Lu Yang was originally supposed to inherit their father's title as Marquis Shiping, but since Lu Yanshi was the youngest brother, Lu Yang requested to pass the title to his younger brother. Lu Yanshi firmly declined the offer and ultimately did not accept. People praised the Lu brothers for their love and filial piety, considering them exemplary. Later, Lu Yanshi was promoted to the position of Attendant of the Imperial Secretariat, and shortly thereafter, he was appointed as the Supervisor of the Imperial Stables. Whenever envoys visited, the court would select the most suitable hosts and guests to receive them, and Lu Yanshi hosted six delegations of envoys.
He later became the Minister of the Yellow Gate, as he refused to flatter the eunuchs and consequently offended some, and was demoted to serve as the Prefect of Zhongshan. He served commendably in Zhongshan for several years, achieving notable accomplishments. Several years later, he was summoned back to the court and appointed as a Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. After Northern Zhou conquered Northern Qi, he was appointed as a Lower Minister of the Imperial Stud. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou, he was promoted to Minor Counsellor, granted the title of Baron of Linshui, and sent on diplomatic missions to Youzhou and Jizhou. Soon after, Yang Jian became Prime Minister, and Lu Yanshi fell ill, requesting a leave to return to Ye City. Wei Jiong was planning a rebellion, and Lu Yanshi vaguely sensed it, so he entrusted his wife and children to others and secretly returned to Chang'an. Yang Jian held him in high regard and appointed him as a Lower Minister of the Interior, also elevating him to the official rank of Upper Yitong. After Yang Jian proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Lu Yanshi as the Deputy Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and promoted his title to Viscount. Lu Yanshi had always been frail, and not long after, his condition worsened due to the demands of his work. He requested to resign from his official position, which the court approved, allowing him to recuperate at home while retaining his original position. Over a year later, he was promoted to be a Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. The Sui Dynasty adopted the Northern Zhou system, which did not distinguish between noble and common officials. However, during Lu Yanshi's tenure, he carefully selected talent and made distinctions between scholars and commoners, earning praise from the people. Later, he was exiled as the Inspector of Fenzhou due to illness, and eventually passed away during his term. Tian Demao was the son of the Duke of Guanguo, Li Rengong. He was known for his filial piety and friendliness from a young age. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, due to his father's military achievements, he was granted the title of Duke of Pingyuan County and also served as the Prince's Commander of the Guards (equivalent to the prince's bodyguard). After his father's death, he was overcome with grief; he became as thin as a skeleton, living beside the grave and personally shoveling soil to raise the tomb.
The emperor was very moved when he heard about it and sent Yuan Zhi, the Envoy of the Imperial Guard, to comfort him. The emperor also personally wrote a letter to him, saying: "The emperor expresses his gratitude to Tian Demao. I know you are in sorrow; your grief surpasses what is expected by etiquette. You live beside the grave, personally shoveling earth to build the grave. I aim to rule with filial piety and vigorously promote the teachings of filial piety and brotherhood. I share a deep bond with your family, and I am very moved and appreciative of your filial piety. Now that spring is warm and mild, how have you been feeling? You should take care of yourself during this time!" At the same time, he rewarded him with two hundred bolts of silk and one hundred measures of rice, and issued an edict to commend his family.
Later, Tian Demao successively held positions such as the Prince's Attendant and Sima of Yizhou. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he became a Yishi Lang and Deputy Minister of the Department of Rites, and eventually passed away while serving. Xue Jun, styled Daoze, was a descendant of the Minister of Justice and Duke of Nei Yang. His father was Xue Yan, the Prefect of Weinan in the Zhou Dynasty. Xue Jun lost his father at a young age and grew up in hardship and isolation, but he was filial to his mother and earned a great reputation. He loved learning from a young age, was ambitious, and eventually went to Chang'an to study under a renowned teacher. At that time, after the pacification of Jiangling, He Tuo returned to the country and recognized his exceptional qualities, personally instructing him in the classics. During the Tianhe period of the Zhou Dynasty, Xue Jun inherited the title of Marquis of Yu City and later became a Nayan Shangshi and the Magistrate of Xinfeng County. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Department of Rites, and shortly after, he was transferred to Kao Gong Shilang. The emperor heard that Xue Jun was particularly filial to his mother, so he rewarded him with a carriage, clothing, a cane, and seasonal delicacies, and everyone regarded him as highly honorable.
Later, Xue Jun's mother fell ill, and Xue Jun appeared worried and haggard, so much so that even those who knew him couldn't recognize him. After his mother passed away, the Emperor sent officials from the Ministry of Rites to take care of Xue Jun's mother's funeral and instructed him to bury her in their ancestral home in Xiayang. It was midwinter, and the weather was exceptionally cold. Xue Jun, wearing coarse mourning clothes and barefoot, braved the wind and snow, walking over 500 miles from the capital to his hometown. His feet froze and bled, which saddened everyone who heard of his journey. Local people wanted to offer him help, but he turned it down. Soon, the Emperor ordered him to return to work, but Xue Jun earnestly requested to complete the mourning period. Although the Emperor initially refused, he was deeply moved by Xue Jun's situation.
When Xue Jun returned to the capital, the Emperor, seeing how emaciated he had become, was greatly saddened. He turned to his ministers and said, "Seeing Xue Jun in such a state of sorrow and distress, I feel sad too." The Emperor lamented deeply for a long time. Eventually, Xue Jun fell ill due to overwhelming grief and passed away shortly after. His brother, Xue Mo, was serving as a military officer for the Prince of Jin in Yangzhou at the time. Before his death, Xue Jun left him a letter, in which he wrote:
"I came from a poor family; life was very difficult, wandering around and often going hungry. I became an orphan when I was very young, had little formal education, but relied on my father's teachings and my mother's good upbringing to persevere. I carried my books and provisions, unafraid of hardship, seeking education everywhere, driven by an insatiable desire to learn that never stopped. I studied diligently, memorizing everything my teachers taught me, and kept at it until I grew up."
Later, I resigned from my job as a farmer and entered government service. It has been twenty-three years now. Although my position isn't high, my salary is enough to support my family. I hope to allow my parents to enjoy their twilight years and fulfill my filial duty. I never expected that despite my sincerity, the heavens did not bless me. Calamity after calamity struck, my brothers were all dismissed, and our family was plunged into deep sorrow with no one to appeal to. I am utterly heartbroken and can barely endure the pain.
Later, disasters continued to strike; I endured torture and suffering, and finally managed to survive, returning home. If there is consciousness after death, I could finally see my parents in the afterlife, which is my greatest wish! But thinking of you alone in a distant place doing official duties, far away on the border, I feel both sadness and regret, not knowing what to say. Luckily, there is a messenger now, hoping to bid you farewell in person. I have been enduring illness and waiting for your return for ten days. Since you have not come, it seems we will be forever separated by life and death; how can I not be heartbroken? Please take care! Take care of yourself!
Xue Jun finished writing the book and passed away; he was forty-two years old. The imperial court reported this to the emperor, and the founding emperor wept bitterly. He even sent someone to deliver a eulogy, which read: "The emperor sends condolences to the late Minister Xue Jun: Alas! Your upright character, outstanding talent, and diligent and honest work truly lived up to the expectations of your ancestors. Unfortunately, you met an untimely end. Your genuine filial devotion deeply moved me; I will mourn you with great solemnity, but the court's protocols are strict. Therefore, I have specially sent someone to announce my decree. If your soul is aware, please feel this grace. Alas!" Xue Jun was known for his integrity and frugality, and when he died, his family was left with no savings.
When Xue Jun was young, he played by the river with the other children in his family. He spotted a yellow snake with horns and legs and called his friends to look at it, but none of his friends could see it. Feeling that this was an ominous sign, Xue Jun returned home deeply troubled. His mother pressed him for an explanation, and Xue Jun told her the truth. At that time, a monk came to their home seeking alms, and fearing for her son, Xue Jun's mother recounted the incident to the monk. The monk said, "This is a good omen for the boy. And this child will have a high official position in the future, but a lifespan of only sixty or seventy years." After saying this, he left and vanished suddenly, leaving everyone feeling puzzled. Eventually, Xue Jun passed away at the age of forty-two, just as the monk had predicted, living "sixty or seventy years." His son, Xue Qianfu, worked as a clerk in the granary of Wuan County.
Wang Ban, also known by his style name Jingyan, hailed from Qixian in Taiyuan. His grandfather, Wang Shennian, was the Left Guard General of the Liang Dynasty; his father, Wang Sengbian, held the title of Grand Commandant. From a young age, Wang Ban was not only handsome but also exceptionally talented, excelling in both literature and martial arts. During his father's suppression of the Hou Jing rebellion, Wang Ban was kept as a hostage in Jingzhou. Later, after the Yuan Emperor was captured by the Zhou army, Wang Ban seized the opportunity to enter Guanzhong. Upon hearing that his father had been killed by Emperor Chen Wu, he was overcome with grief, fainted, and, after regaining consciousness, cried uncontrollably, becoming gaunt and emaciated. Once his mourning period was over, he continued to wear rough clothing, eat vegetarian meals, and sleep on straw. Emperor Ming of Zhou held him in high regard, appointing him as a Left Attendant Officer, and later promoting him to Governor of Hanzhong, and then to Yitong Sanqi. In the early years of the Kaihuang era, he was honored with the title of Kaifu and appointed Duke of Sheqiu County for his achievements in pacifying the barbarians. He proposed a strategy to attack the Chen Kingdom, which took the emperor by surprise. After meeting with him and hearing his strategy, the emperor was moved to tears, visibly affected.
When the major offensive against the Chen Kingdom began, Wang Ban took the initiative to lead hundreds of soldiers and followed Han Qin to cross the river at night. He was injured in the battle, worried he could no longer fight and cried out in sadness and anger. He fell asleep in the middle of the night and dreamt that someone gave him medicine. When he woke up, his wound no longer pained him, and people at the time believed it was his filial piety that had moved the heavens. After the Chen Kingdom was destroyed, Wang Ban secretly gathered his father's former subordinates, assembled over a thousand people, and wept bitterly before them. One of the warriors asked him, "Lord, you have conquered the Chen Kingdom, destroyed their nation, and avenged your grievances, why are you still so sad? Is it because your father died too soon, and you never got the chance to kill Emperor Chen Wu yourself? Why don't we dig up his grave, burn his coffin and bones, this way you can also show your filial piety!" Wang Ban respectfully declined, bowing his head until it bled, and replied, "Emperor Chen Wu is an emperor, his tomb is very large, I'm afraid we won't be able to dig it up in one night. If we find the body, it will be discovered by dawn. What then?" The others suggested they prepare tools and work together. So they dug open Emperor Chen Wu's tomb at night, opened the coffin and found that not a single hair from Emperor Chen Wu's beard had fallen. Wang Ban then burned the bones and washed the ashes down with water. He then bound himself and confessed to the Prince of Jin. The Prince of Jin reported this to Emperor Gaozu, who said, "I subdued the Chen Kingdom in the name of justice; what Wang Ban did was an act of filial piety. How could I punish him?" Thus, he chose not to pursue the matter any further.
The relevant department recorded his military achievements and intended to confer upon him the title of Zhu Guo, rewarding him with five thousand bolts of cloth. Wang Ban firmly declined, saying, "I only achieved success by relying on the country's support to settle personal scores, not for the nation. I dare not accept these official positions and rewards." Emperor Gaozu agreed to his request. Later, he was appointed as the Inspector of Daizhou, where he performed well. After his mother passed away, he resigned from his official position. He later served as the Inspector of Qizhou and eventually died in office at the age of fifty-two. His brother Wang Hui is also recorded in the "Biographies of Literature."
Yang Qing, styled Boyue, was from Hejian, Hebei. His grandfather and father were both known for their filial piety. Yang Qing was handsome and intelligent. At the age of sixteen, the Confucian scholar Xu Zunming saw him and thought he was exceptional. As he grew older, he read many books. When he was twenty-five, the county recommended him as a Filial and Incorrupt official, but he did not take up the position because he needed to care for his mother. His mother fell ill, and for seventy years, he never loosened his clothing to serve her. After his mother's death, he was grief-stricken, emaciated, and personally carried soil to her grave. Emperor Wenxuan of Qi commended his family, rewarding him with thirty pieces of cloth, ten bales of cotton, and fifty stones of grain. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he rewarded him multiple times, promoting him to the position of Senior Official of the Three Departments, and sending him to serve as the Prefect of Pingyang. He passed away at home at the age of eighty-five.
Guo Jun, styled Hongyi, was from Wenshui, Taiyuan, Shanxi. His family lived harmoniously, with seven generations living together, sharing food with dogs and pigs, and crows and magpies nesting together. People at the time believed this was an auspicious sign brought about by filial piety. The local authorities reported this to the court, and the Emperor sent the Duke of Pingchang, Yuwen Bi, to visit his family. When the Imperial Censor Liu Yu inspected Hebei, he also commended his family. When Han Wang Liang took on the role of Governor of Bingzhou, he greatly appreciated this and rewarded him and over twenty of his brothers with a set of clothes each.
Tian Yi, originating from an unknown region, was especially filial, known for his devotion to his mother. His stepmother was bedridden for over a year, and Tian Yi personally changed her clothes, shared meals with her, and wouldn't eat if she didn't. When his mother contracted a severe case of dysentery, Tian Yi thought she was poisoned, so he even tasted the food himself. After his mother passed away, Tian Yi was overcome with grief and fainted; his wife also died from excessive sorrow. The villagers gave them a grand burial.
Niu Hui, known as Xiao Zheng, was from Anyi in Hedong, Shanxi. He was extremely filial. During the reign of Emperor Wu Cheng of the Zhou Dynasty, after his parents passed away, he lived beside their graves and personally tended to the graves. A tall hemp tree grew in front of the grave, over ten feet tall, with a sturdy trunk and lush branches and leaves that remained green in both winter and summer. A crow perched on it, and Niu Hui cried loudly, and the crow mourned as well, much to the puzzlement of those around. Emperor Wu Cheng commended his family and promoted him to be the magistrate of Gantang County. He passed away during the early years of the Kaihuang era.
Zi Shixiong was always upright and filial from a young age. After his father passed away, he constructed a modest dwelling next to the grave and personally piled up the earth on the tomb. There was a locust tree in front of his courtyard that used to be very lush, but since Zi Shixiong observed mourning, the tree surprisingly withered. When his mourning period was over and he returned home, the once-withered tree miraculously revived! Emperor Gaozu, upon hearing of this, praised the father and son’s extraordinary filial piety, issuing an edict to commend them and naming the place where Zi Shixiong resided as "Leide Village."
Liu Shijun was from Pengcheng and exceptionally filial. After his mother passed away, he fainted several times from excessive sorrow, only to wake up later. He went without water for seven days and nights, remained by his mother's grave, personally piled up the earth on the tomb, and planted pine and cypress trees. Even foxes and wolves appeared to be touched by his devotion, voluntarily bringing him food. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he specifically commended his family.
Lang Fanggui is from Huainan. He has had lofty aspirations since he was young and lived with his cousin Lang Shuanggui. During the reign of Kaihuang, Lang Fanggui was caught in a heavy rainstorm and the Huai River rose suddenly while he was out on business. Waiting at the ferry crossing for a boat to cross the river, the boatman was rude to him and even went so far as to break his arm. When he returned home, Shuanggui anxiously asked him what had happened, and Fanggui told him everything. Shuanggui was very angry and went to the ferry crossing and killed the boatman. The ferry guards arrested Shuanggui and took him to the county office. After interrogation, Fanggui was deemed the instigator and sentenced to death, while Shuanggui was an accomplice and sentenced to exile. The two brothers insisted on taking the blame, but the county office was unable to reach a verdict, so they reported the case to the prefecture. The two brothers each insisted on their own version of events at the prefecture, which made it challenging to reach a ruling. They even contemplated jumping into the river together to take their own lives. The prefecture reported the situation to the imperial court, and the emperor was deeply moved when he heard about it. He pardoned their offenses, commended their family, and granted them one hundred bolts of cloth. Later, Lang Fanggui went on to become the chief registrar of the prefecture.
Zhai Pulin was a man from Chuqiu, known for his filial piety. He was summoned multiple times by the local authorities to serve as an official, but he refused each time, choosing instead to stay at home to farm and care for his parents. The people in his village called him "Mr. Chuqiu." When his parents fell ill, he personally took care of them, never changing his clothes for seventy days, serving them day and night. In the early years of the Daye era, his parents passed away one after the other, and Zhai Pulin was heartbroken and nearly lost his sanity. He lived next to their graves, personally piling up soil to create the mounds. Even in the cold winter, he wore no warm clothes, just a thin hemp garment. His black dog followed him to the gravesite to mourn. Whenever Zhai Pulin cried in sorrow, the dog would also wail in grief, drawing admiration from onlookers. Two magpie nests were built in the cypress tree in front of his house, and the magpies often flew into his house without fear. During the Daye era, when the imperial inspector made his rounds, Zhai Pulin's filial piety was reported to the emperor, who then appointed him as the magistrate of Xiaoyang County.
Li Derao was a native of Bairen County in Zhao County. His family had a distinguished lineage. His great-grandfather, Li Che, was the Right Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel during the Wei Dynasty, and his father, Li Chun, held the position of Changshi in Jiezhou during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui. Li Derao was intelligent and studious from a young age, with a kind heart, and was highly respected by everyone. When he was young, he became a junior official and worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, handling documents. He was later promoted to the position of Imperial Censor, enforcing justice and was unafraid to correct the mistakes of even high-ranking officials' relatives. In the third year of the Daye era, he was promoted to the position of Sili Attendant, regularly conducting inspections across different regions, rectifying injustices for the wronged, and honoring those known for their filial piety and kindness. Although his official position was not very high, he was known for his integrity and noble character, held in high regard, and mingled with the era's most renowned talents. He was especially filial to his parents. When his parents were ill, he went without food or changed clothes for over ten days. After his parents passed away, he did not drink water for five days, consumed by grief, and even vomited several liters of blood. On the day of the burial, amidst a heavy winter snowstorm, he walked over forty miles barefoot, wearing coarse mourning clothes, crying so hard he nearly fainted. More than a thousand people attended the funeral, and not one person left without tears. Later, dew miraculously fell from the trees in his family's courtyard, and magpies nested under the eaves.
When Governor Yang Da visited Hebei, he specially went to Li Derao's home to offer condolences and renamed the village where Li Derao lived to "Village of Filial Piety" and the township to "Harmony District." Later, Li Derao was appointed as the county magistrate of Jinhe, but before he could take office, he faced a surge of banditry. The bandit leader Ge Qian, Sun Xuanya, and more than ten other leaders gathered in the Bohai region. The court issued an amnesty decree, but Ge Qian and others were too afraid to surrender. Hearing that Li Derao was upright and reliable, they sent a messenger to inform the court, saying, "If Li Derao is sent, we will surrender together." The emperor dispatched Li Derao to the Bohai region to persuade the bandits to surrender. Upon reaching Guan County, he encountered other bandits attacking the county town, and tragically, Li Derao was killed.
Li Derao's younger brother Li Dezhuo was renowned for his integrity. During the reign of the Sui Dynasty, he served as a judicial officer in Lishi County, and Governor Yang Zichong held him in high regard. After the righteous army's uprising, Yang Zichong was killed, and his body was discarded outside the city. Li Dezhuo lamented deeply and buried Yang Zichong's body. When he arrived in Jiexiu, he aligned himself with the righteous army and requested to organize a formal funeral for Yang Zichong. The general held him in high esteem, posthumously conferred an official title upon Yang Zichong, and designated Li Dezhuo as the envoy to oversee the funeral arrangements for Yang Zichong in Lishi.
Huaqiu is from Linhe in Jijun. He lost his father at a young age and was especially devoted to his mother. Despite their poverty, he earned a living through odd jobs. When his mother fell ill, Huaqiu became haggard and neglected his appearance, which drew concern from everyone in the province. After his mother passed away, he stopped grooming himself and lost all his hair. He built a shelter next to his mother's grave, carrying soil to build it up. He would even kneel down to refuse help from anyone who offered. During the Daye era, a large-scale fox hunt took place in the county. One day, a rabbit being chased by hunters ran into Huaqiu's shelter and hid under his knee. When the hunters arrived, they were surprised by the sight and chose to let the rabbit go. From then on, the rabbit began to spend many nights in the shelter and grew very close to Huaqiu. The townspeople praised his devotion and reported it to the court. Emperor Yang of Sui sent envoys to comfort him and honored his family. Later, as bandits roamed the area around Huaqiu's shelter, they warned each other not to mess with "this devoted son." Because of Huaqiu, many lives were saved in the village.
Xu Xiaosu is also from Jijun. His family comprised several thousand households, most of whom indulge in luxury and pleasure. Only Xu Xiaosu was known for his frugality and filial piety. He lost his father when he was young and never knew what he looked like. As he grew older, he asked his mother to describe his father, then had a painter draw a portrait of him, and constructed a small shrine in his honor, where he regularly paid his respects. He served his mother with deep filial devotion, and for decades, his family never saw him lose his temper. When his mother grew old and sick, Xu Xiaosu personally cared for her, worrying deeply for several years, and everyone who saw him couldn't help but feel sad for him. After his mother passed, Xu Xiaosu subsisted solely on vegetables and water, even in the dead of winter, he wore nothing but a thin garment, becoming extremely thin. He personally carried soil to the graves of his ancestors, living beside the graves for over forty years, with unkempt hair and walking barefoot, he eventually passed away there.
His younger brother, Xu Debei, was intelligent and knowledgeable in the Five Classics, and was celebrated as a Confucian scholar in the Hebei region. After Xu Debei passed away, his son, Xu Chumo, also lived in a shack next to the graves. Their family has exhibited filial piety for generations, which is truly admirable!
Historical records say: In the past, the promotion of respect for elders often relied on the nobility; but in recent years, the emphasis on filial piety and brotherly love now primarily comes from ordinary folk. People like Yanshi and Daoze, some of whose families have been high-ranking officials for generations, and some of whom have sworn to serve the country, have ended up in a sad state of disgrace. Although their actions went against the principles set by the ancient kings, it also reveals a sense of righteousness in their hearts.
The Lang Gui brothers, in order to save each other, nearly sacrificed their lives, whereas the Tian Yi couple passed away, yet left behind a commendable reputation. De Rao won over the mountain bandits through his benevolence, and De Zhuo's acts of righteousness touched the king, and these are all praiseworthy. Niu Hui, Liu Jun, Zhai Lin, Hua Qiu, and others have homes that either boast lush vegetation or have birds and animals nearby; this level of filial piety is not something ordinary people can attain. It's almost as if they are blessed by the divine!
