| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 颜征在, 顏徵在, Yán Zhēngzài |
| Other name | Nhan Trưng Tại |
| INFORMATION | |
| Born | c. 568 BC |
| Birth Place | State of Lu (鲁国; nước Lỗ) |
| Died | c. 535 BC |
| Death Reason | Illness / Exhaustion |
| FAMILY | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | State of Lu (Spring and Autumn Period) |
Yan Zhengzai (颜征在, Nhan Trưng Tại; 568–535 BC), was the revered mother of Confucius (孔子) during the Spring and Autumn period. A daughter of the noble Yan clan of Qufu in the State of Lu, she was celebrated for profound wisdom, piety, and maternal fortitude.
Married to the elderly martial hero Shuliang He, she climbed Mount Ni (Niqiu 尼丘山) to pray to Heaven for a sage son. When Confucius was born in 551 BC, he was named Qiu (丘) and courtesy-named Zhongni (仲尼) in gratitude to the sacred mountain. Following Shuliang He’s death three years later, Yan Zhengzai relocated to the Lu capital of Qufu, enduring extreme poverty to single-handedly educate Confucius in the Six Classical Arts (Rites, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy, and Mathematics), laying the intellectual foundation for the sage who shaped Chinese civilization.
Role in History (Shiji)
Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji, vol. 47, House of Confucius): “Yan Zhengzai took her infant son to Qufu. Though impoverished, she instructed him in every rite, and young Confucius played with sacrificial vessels upon the mat.”
Yan Zhengzai — Historical & Literary Timeline
568 BC
Birth in Lu
Born into the cultured Yan clan of Qufu.
551 BC
Prayer at Mount Ni & Birth of Confucius
Prays at Mount Ni; gives birth to Kong Qiu.
548 BC
Widowhood & Move to Qufu
Shuliang He dies; Yan Zhengzai raises Confucius through humble labor in Qufu.
535 BC
Passing in Qufu
Passes away when Confucius is seventeen; buried alongside Shuliang He at Mount Fang.
Key Relationships
Family
- Son Confucius (孔子, Khổng Tử): The Great Sage whom she nurtured into world renown.
- Husband Shuliang He (叔梁纥): Magistrate and martial hero of Zou.
- Grandson Kong Li (孔鲤 – Boyu): Son of Confucius.
Friends
- Yan Clan Kin Elders of the Yan family: Supported her move to Qufu.
Enemies
- Poverty & Hardship Destitution in early widowhood: Overcome through maternal industry and education.
Other
- Posthumous Honors Emperors of China: Posthumously honored as Queen of Qisheng (启圣王夫人).
In Shiji
"A mother's prayer upon Mount Ni brought forth the light of ten thousand generations."
Cultural Significance
Yan Zhengzai is venerated as one of the great founding mothers of Confucian culture, whose personal sacrifices enabled Confucius to master ancient rites.
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