Chu Yuan 褚淵

Chu Yuan 褚淵 (435-482), courtesy name Yanhui 彥回, from Yangdi 陽翟 in the commandery of Henan 河南 (today's Yuxian 禹縣, Henan), was a high official of the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋 (420-479), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589). He was the son of Chu Zhanzhi 褚湛之(411-460).

In his youth, he had a reputation for integrity. He first married Princess Shi'an 始安公主, a daughter of Emperor Wu 宋武帝 (r. 420-422, and later Princess Nanjun 南郡公主, a daughter of Emperor Wen 宋文帝 (r. 424-453). He was appointed Commander-Escort (fuma duwei 駙馬都尉) and Assistant Editorial Director of the Palace Library (zhuzuo zuolang 著作佐郎). When his father died, Yuan gave the family wealth to his younger brother, keeping only several thousand volumes of books for himself. However, he inherited the title of Marquis of the District of Duxiang 都鄉侯.

During the reign of Emperor Ming 宋明帝 (r. 465-472), he was successively promoted to Minister of Personnel (libu shangshu 吏部尚書) and then Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu zuo puye 尚書右僕射) and Protector-General (hujun jiangjun 護軍將車). He was also Palace Attendant (shizhong 侍中), manager of the Palace of the Heir Apparent (zhi donggong shi 知東宮事), General of the Imperial Guard (xiaoji jiangjun 驍騎將軍)， Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary (sanji changshi 散騎常侍), metropolitan magistrate (jin 尹) of Danyang 丹陽 and governor (taishi 太守) of Wuxing 吳興. Chu was invested as Earl of Edu District 雩都縣伯. During his time in office, he promoted frugality and worked hard to eliminate the culture of extravagance.

In 474, when Prince Liu Xiufan 劉休範 (448-474) of Guiyang 桂陽 rebelled, he entered the palace to defend it and helped stabilize public morale. After the rebellion was suppressed, he was promoted to Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu ling 尚書令) and elevated in rank to full Marquis. During the reign of Emperor Shun 宋順帝 (r. 477-479), Chu was given the position of General of the Guards (wei jiangjun 衛將軍) and received the designation Commander Unequalled in Honour (kaifu yitong sansi 開府儀同三司).

When Emperor Ming was on the deathbed, Chu Yuan received the order to reign for the Prince of Cangwu 蒼梧 (the Later Deposed Emperor 宋後廢帝, r. 472-477), together with Yuan Can 袁粲 (420-478). Yet Chu Yuan betrayed Yuan Can and supported Xiao Daocheng 蕭道成 (Emperor Gao 齊高帝, r. 479-482) in replacing the Liu Song dynasty with the Qi dynasty 南齊 (479-502). He participated in the planning and was rewarded with the honorific title of Minister of Works (situ 司徒) and was invested as Duke of Nankang Commandery 南康郡公. His posthumous title was Duke Wenjian 南康郡文簡公. When he died, he left no wealth in his household.

Of his collected writings, the rhapsody Qiushang fu 秋傷賦 and the letter Da Xiao Lingjun shu 答蕭領軍書 have survived.