User:Lds/Sandbox/Xun family of Yingchuan

The Xun family of Yingchuan was a Chinese political family active from the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE) to the Northern and Southern dynasties period (420–589). The family descended from the Confucian philosopher Xun Kuang ( third century BCE), who is better known as Xun Zi (or "Master Xun"). Its notable members included Xun Shu (83–149), Xun Shuang (128–190), Xun Yu (163–212), Xun You (157–214), Xun Xu (died 289), Xun Song (263–329) and Xun Xian (322–359). The family's ancestral home was in Yingyin County (潁陰縣), Yingchuan Commandery (穎川郡), which is in present-day Xuchang, Henan Province.

Xun Shu and his eight sons
Xun Shu (荀淑), courtesy name Jihe (季和), lived through the reigns of Emperors Shun and Huan in the Eastern Han dynasty. He was famous for being highly intelligent, knowledgeable, and of high moral character. He was also very well-connected, with acquaintances and close friends such as Li Gu, Li Ying, Li Zhao (李昭), Huang Shudu (黃叔度) and Wang Chang (王暢). He served as the Prefect (令) of Langling County (朗陵縣) and later as a Chancellor (相) to the Marquis of Langling County, and died while serving in office. His contemporaries nicknamed him "Divine Gentleman" (神君).

Xun Shu had eight sons, who were nicknamed the "Eight Dragons of the Xun Family" (荀氏八龍). Yuan Kang (苑康), the Prefect of Xihaoli (西豪里), where Xun Shu lived, once compared Xun Shu's eight sons to the eight sons of the mythical emperor Zhuanxu. His eight sons, ranked in order of decreasing seniority, were as follows:


 * Xun Jian (荀儉), courtesy name Boci (伯慈), served as the Chief (長) of Langling County (朗陵縣).
 * Xun Gun (荀緄), courtesy name Zhongci (仲慈), served as the Chancellor (相) of the Jinan State (濟南國).
 * Xun Jing (荀靖), courtesy name Shuci (叔慈), was known for his high moral character and second to his sixth brother Xun Shuang in terms of fame. However, he never served as an official and lived as a hermit throughout his life. Someone once asked Xu Shao, a famous character evaluator, whether Xun Shuang or Xun Jing was more virtuous. Xu Shao replied, "Both of them are like jade. Ciming (Xun Shuang) is extroverted and bright; Shuci (Xun Jing) is introverted and elegant."
 * Xun Dao (荀燾), courtesy name Ciguang (慈光).
 * Xun Wang (荀汪), courtesy name Mengci (孟慈)
 * Xun Shuang (荀爽), courtesy name Ciming (慈明). He started his official career as a commoner and rose through the ranks quickly to become Minister of Works (司空) (one of the Three Ducal Ministers) within 95 days. Before reaching that highly prestigious office, Xun Shuang had held the appointments of Chancellor of Pingyuan County (平原縣) and Minister of the Household (光祿勳).
 * Xun Su (荀肅), courtesy name Jingci (敬慈).
 * Xun Fu (荀旉), courtesy name Youci (幼慈).

Xun Jian's branch

 * Xun Yue (荀悅), courtesy name Zhongyu (仲豫), was Xun Jian's son. He served as a historian and Confucian scholar under the Han government and wrote 13 chapters of the historical text Annals of Han (漢紀).

Xun Gun's branch
Xun Gun had at least five sons. Only three of them are known:
 * Xun Yan (荀衍), courtesy name Xiuruo (休若), was Xun Gun's third son. He served as a "Colonel and Army Inspector" (監軍校尉) under Cao Cao, and was put in charge of guarding Ye city after Cao defeated Yuan Shang at the Battle of Ye in 204 and conquered the city. When Cao Cao was away to continue his campaign against Yuan Shang, Yuan Shang's cousin Gao Gan secretly sent troops to launch a sneak attack on Ye city. However, Xun Yan detected their advance and led the defending troops to destroy the enemy. He was awarded a marquis title in recognition of his contributions.
 * Xun Chen (荀諶), courtesy name Youruo (友若), was Xun Gun's fourth son. He initially served under Han Fu and later as a strategist under Yuan Shao. It was not recorded in history about what happened to him after Yuan Shao's defeat by Cao Cao at the Battle of Guandu.
 * Xun Yu (荀彧), courtesy name Wenruo (文若), was Xun Gun's fifth son. He was a statesman of the Han dynasty and an adviser to Cao Cao.

Xun Yan's branch

 * Xun Shao (荀紹), Xun Yan's son, served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period and held the position of Minister Coachman (太僕).
 * Xun Rong (荀融), courtesy name Boya (伯雅), was Xun Shao's son. He served as the Prefect (令) of Luoyang and as a military adviser to the General-in-Chief (大將軍). Xun Rong was on equal fame as Wang Bi and Zhong Hui; the three of them were also known for their contributions to neo-Taoism.

Xun Chen's branch

 * Xun Hong (荀閎), courtesy name Zhongmao (仲茂), was Xun Chen's son. He served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, and held the appointments of Officer of Writings to the Crown Prince (太子文學掾) and Gentleman of the Yellow Gate (黃門侍郎).
 * Xun Yun (荀惲), courtesy name Jingwen (景文), was Xun Hong's grandnephew. He served as an Attendant of the Crown Prince (太子中庶子) and was known for some achievements in music and literature.

Xun Yu's branch

 * Xun Yu's spouse: The Houhanshu mentioned that Xun Yu's father, Xun Gun, arranged for a marriage between his son and the (foster) daughter of a court eunuch, Tang Heng (唐衡). Xun Gun feared the highly influential court eunuchs and wanted to curry favour with them. The Dianlue further mentioned that Tang Heng initially wanted to marry his (foster) daughter to Fu Gongming (傅公明) of Runan Commandery (汝南郡) but Fu declined. Xun Gun was scorned because he forced his son to marry a court eunuch's (foster) daughter. Pei Songzhi, who annotated Xun Yu's biography in the Sanguozhi, disputed this account. He noted that the Han Ji (漢紀) mentioned that Tang Heng died long before Xun Yu reached a marriageable age, so it was highly unlikely that the marriage took place. Pei Songzhi also argued that Xun Gun would be very unlikely to accept such a marriage because it could potentially harm the Xun family's reputation.

Xun Yu had at least seven sons and one daughter. Only five of his sons are mentioned in history. They lived into the Three Kingdoms period after the end of the Han dynasty in 220 and served in the state of Cao Wei, which was established by Cao Cao's son and successor, Cao Pi. The sixth, Xun Yi, lived into the early Jin dynasty after the fall of Cao Wei in 265.
 * Xun Yu's daughter: It is not known where she ranked in order of seniority among Xun Yu's children, but it is known that she was older than Xun Yu's sixth son, Xun Yi. She married Chen Qun and bore Chen Tai.
 * Xun Yun (荀惲), courtesy name Zhangqian (長倩), was Xun Yu's eldest son. He inherited his father's title, "Marquis of Wansui Village" (萬歲亭侯), and served as a General of the Household in the Rapid as Tigers Division (虎賁中郎將) of the Imperial Guards. Sometime in the 200s CE, Xun Yun had married one of Cao Cao's daughters, later known as the "Princess of Anyang" (安陽公主). Between 211 and 217, Cao Pi and his younger brother Cao Zhi engaged in a power struggle over the succession to their father's place as the vassal "King of Wei". Cao Pi treated Xun Yu respectfully as he knew that his father highly regarded Xun Yu. After Xun Yu's death, Cao Pi resented Xun Yun because Xun Yun was close to Cao Zhi and not on good terms with Cao Pi's relative and close friend, Xiahou Shang. Xun Yun died early. Xun Yun (荀惲) had two sons, Xun Han (荀甝) and Xun Yi (荀霬), who were born to one of Cao Cao's daughters, the Princess of Anyang (安陽公主). Cao Pi favoured Xun Han and Xun Yi because they were his maternal nephews.
 * Xun Han (荀甝), Xun Yun's son, served as an Attendant of Scattered Cavalry (散騎常侍) in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period and was enfeoffed as the "Marquis of Guangyang District" (廣陽鄉侯). He died at the age of 30 (by East Asian age reckoning).
 * Xun Jun (荀頵), courtesy name Wenbo (溫伯), was Xun Han's son. He served as the Right Director of the Feathered Forest Division (羽林右監) and died early.
 * Xun Song (荀崧), courtesy name Jingyou (景猷), was Xun Jun's son. He was known for his literary talents, diligence and good moral character. He served as the Left and Right Household Counsellors (光祿大夫), had his own office, and received treatment equivalent to that accorded to the Three Ducal Ministers.
 * Xun Xian (荀羨), courtesy name Lingze (令則), was Xun Song's son. Like his father, he was also known for his literary talents. He married a Jin dynasty princess and became North General of the Household (北中郎將) at the age of 27. He subsequently served as the Inspector (刺史) of Xu and Yan provinces and was in charge of military affairs in Xu, Yan and Qing provinces. After serving for over 10 years, he was forced to retire due to illness and eventually died at home, and was posthumously promoted to "General of Agile Cavalry" (驃騎將軍).
 * Xun Yi (荀猗) was Xun Xian's son.
 * Xun Bozi (荀伯子) was Xun Yi's son. He served as a Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk (御史中丞) under the Liu Song dynasty.
 * Xun Guan (荀灌) was Xun Song's daughter.
 * Xun Yi (荀霬), Xun Yun's second son, served as a Central Army Commander (中領軍). He also married a sister of the Wei regents Sima Shi and Sima Zhao and was very close to them. After he died, he was awarded the posthumous title "Marquis Zhen" (貞侯) and posthumously promoted to "General of Agile Cavalry" (驃騎將軍).
 * Xun Dan (荀憺), Xun Yi's eldest son, served as Minister Steward (少府).
 * Xun Kai (荀愷) was Xun Yi's second son and successor. During the reign of the last Wei emperor Cao Huan, he was enfeoffed as the "Viscount of Nandun" (南頓子) because of his father's past contributions. Xun Kai served as a Palace Attendant (侍中) during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Jin dynasty. Gan Bao's Jin Ji (晉紀) mentioned that Emperor Wu once ordered Xun Yi (荀顗) and He Jiao (和嶠) to observe and evaluate the crown prince Sima Zhong. Another account by Sun Sheng mentioned that it was not Xun Yi; it was Xun Xu (荀勗), a distant relative of his. Pei Songzhi believed that both Gan Bao and Sun Sheng were wrong: Xun Yi was already dead at the time; Xun Xu's status was lower than He Jiao's, so he could not have possibly been assigned to work on equal footing with another official of higher status. He believed that the person working with He Jiao was actually Xun Kai. Xun Kai rose through the ranks and was appointed as "Senior General Who Attacks the West" (征西大將軍).
 * Xun Kui (荀悝), Xun Yi's third son, served as "General Who Protects the Army" (護軍將軍) and was posthumously promoted to "Senior General of Chariots and Cavalry" (車騎大將軍).
 * Xun Yu (荀俁), courtesy name Shuqian (叔倩), was Xun Yu's son. He served as a Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk (御史中丞).
 * Xun Yu (荀寓), courtesy name Jingbo (景伯), was the son of Xun Yu (荀俁). The Shiyu (世語) mentioned that he served under the Jin dynasty and held the appointment of an Imperial Secretary (尚書). He was also as famous as Pei Kai (裴楷), Wang Rong and Du Mo (杜默).
 * Xun Yu (荀羽) was the son and successor of Xun Yu (荀寓). Like his father before him, he served as an Imperial Secretary (尚書) under the Jin dynasty.
 * Xun Shen (荀詵), courtesy name Manqian (曼倩), was Xun Yu's son. He served as an Assistant to the General-in-Chief (大將軍從事中郎). He died early.
 * Xun Yi (荀顗), courtesy name Jingqian (景倩), was Xun Yu's sixth son. He served as an official in Wei and continued serving under the Jin dynasty after the fall of Wei. He was enfeoffed as the Duke of Linhuai (臨淮公) for his contributions.
 * Xun Can (荀粲), courtesy name Fengqian (奉倩), was Xun Yu's son. He was a scholar and xuanxue philosopher in Wei.

Xun Shuang's branch
Xun Shuang was known to have at least one son and one daughter:
 * Xun Cai (荀采), courtesy name Nüxun (女荀), was Xun Shuang's daughter.
 * Xun Fei (荀棐) was Xun Shuang's son He served as a Colonel of Shooters at Sounds (射聲校尉) in the Eastern Han dynasty.
 * Xun Xi (荀肸) was Xun Fei's son. He died early.
 * Xun Xu (荀勗 / 荀勖), courtesy name Gongzeng (公曾;), was Xun Xi's son. He served as an official, musician, writer and painter under the Cao Wei state in the Three Kingdoms period and later under the Jin dynasty.

Xun Xu's branch
Xun Xu had at least ten sons and one daughter. His daughter, whose name is unknown, married Wu Tong (武統). Among Xun Xu's sons, the notable ones and their descendants were:
 * Xun Ji (荀輯). He inherited his father's marquis title and served in the Jin government, with his highest appointment being Minister of the Guards (衛尉). He was honoured with the posthumous title "Marquis Jian" (簡侯) after his death.
 * Xun Jun (荀畯) was Xun Ji's son. He inherited his grandfather and father's marquis title, and was posthumously honoured as "Marquis Lie" (烈侯). As Xun Jun had no son to succeed him, his marquis title was passed on to his nephew, Xun Shi (荀識). It is unknown who Xun Shi's father was.
 * Xun Chuo (荀綽), courtesy name Yanshu (彥舒), was a son of Xun Ji. He was famous for his literary talent and wrote 15 chapters of the Later Book of Jin (晉後書). Towards the end of the Yongjia era (307–313) in Emperor Huai's reign, he served as an Assistant Palace Gentleman (從事中郎) to the Minister of Works. He was captured by Shi Le when the latter rebelled against the Jin dynasty and became Shi Le's military adviser.
 * Xun Fan (荀籓), courtesy name Dajian (大堅), was one of Xun Xu's sons.
 * Xun Zu (荀組), courtesy name Taizhang (泰章), was one of Xun Xu's sons.

One of Xun Xu's grandsons, Xun Xian (荀顯), was enfeoffed by Emperor Wu as the Marquis of Yingyang Village (潁陽亭侯). It is unknown who Xun Xian's father was.

Xun Tan's branch

 * Xun Tan (荀曇), courtesy name Yuanzhi (元智), was a nephew of Xun Shu and a first cousin of Xun Shu's eight sons. He served as the Administrator (太守) of Guangling Commandery (廣陵郡; around present-day Huai'an, Jiangsu).
 * Xun Yi (荀彝) was a son of Xun Tan. He served as a commandery-level Assistant Officer (從事). Xun Yi was a second cousin of Xun Yu, hence Xun You was Xun Yu's second cousin-nephew.
 * Xun Qu (荀衢) was a son of Xun Tan.
 * Xun Qi (荀祈), courtesy name Boqi (伯旗), was Xun Qu's son. He was as famous as his relative, Xun Yin (荀愔). Xun Qi and Xun Yin both had philosophical discussions with Kong Rong before regarding mutilation and Confucian sages. Xun Qi served as the Administrator (太守) of Jiyin Commandery (濟陰郡; around present-day Dingtao County, Shandong). Xun Yin served as a Libationer to the Chancellor (丞相祭酒).
 * Xun Yu (荀昱), courtesy name Boxiu (伯脩), was Xun Tan's elder brother. The brothers Xun Yu and Xun Tan were known for their talents. Xun Yu, along with Li Ying, Wang Chang (王暢) and Du Mi (杜密), were among a group of scholar-officials nicknamed the "Eight Talents" (八俊). Xun Yu also served as the Chancellor of Pei (沛相).

Xun You's branch

 * Xun You (荀攸), courtesy name Gongda (公達), was a second cousin-nephew of Xun Yu even though he was older than Xun Yu in age. Like Xun Yu, he also served as a statesman under the Eastern Han dynasty and an adviser to Cao Cao.

Xun You had at least three sons.
 * Xun Ji (荀緝), Xun You's eldest son. He resembled his father in character but died early.
 * Xun Shi (荀適), Xun You's second son. He inherited his father's title "Marquis of Lingshu Village" (陵樹亭侯) and had no son to succeed him when he died.

In the early Huangchu era (220-226) of Cao Pi's reign, Xun You's grandson, Xun Biao (荀彪), inherited the title "Marquis of Lingshu Village" and received 300 taxable households to form his marquisate. His title was later changed to "Marquis of Qiuyang Village" (丘陽亭侯). The identity of Xun Biao's father is not known.