Background

Yan Silu is the son of Yan Zhitui. He is a native of Linyi, Langya Commandery (琅琊郡). Yan wrote the preface to his father's anthology. 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.

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

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

生平

顏思魯為顏淵三十六代孫，其父顏之推流寓北周為官，任御史上士。入隋朝後，顏之推仕隋，定居於京兆萬年縣。隋末，唐高祖李淵起兵，顏思魯率領子姪歸附。

顏思魯娶陳郡殷氏殷英童之女，生三子：顏師古、顏相時、顏勤禮，後繼娶王氏，又生一子顏育德。