Early life

Cui Yan was from Dongwucheng County, Qinghe Commandery, Ji Province, which is around present-day Gucheng County, Hebei. He was born in the Cui family of Qinghe Commandery, a political family which rose to prominence during the Sui and Tang dynasties later. In his youth, he was known to be plain, dull and lacking in communication skills, but he was very interested in swordsmanship and military arts. When he was 22 years old, he was nominated by the local district office to be a judicial officer, for which he was so grateful that he started reading books such as the Analects and Han Shi

Six years later, at the age of 28, Cui Yan befriended Gongsun Fang and others and they studied together under the tutelage of the Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan. However, in 194, before Cui Yan could even complete his first year of studies, the Yellow Turban rebels from Xu Province attacked Beihai Commandery, where Zheng Xuan conducted his classes, so Zheng and his students fled east to Mount Buqi (不其山; northwest of Mount Lao) to evade chaos. Despite so, the rebellion had resulted in food shortages, so Zheng Xuan had no choice but to send his students away. After leaving Mount Buqi, Cui Yan could not return to Qinghe Commandery because rebel forces and bandits were rampant in the region and the roads leading west were blocked. He wandered around Qing, Xu, Yan and Yu provinces and visited several places, including Shouchun (寿春; present-day Shou County, Anhui), Lake Tai and the northern bank of the Yangtze River. After four years, he returned home and spent his time playing music and writing calligraphy.

Service under Yuan Shao

Around the late 190s, the northern warlord Yuan Shao heard of Cui Yan and recruited the latter to serve under him. At the time, due to widespread chaos and famine, many soldiers had resorted to crime as a means of survival and some started robbing and plundering tombs. Cui Yan urged Yuan Shao to maintain good discipline among his troops, saying, "In the past, Sun Qing once said: 'If the soldiers in an army are ill disciplined, the army's prowess will be weak. It will not achieve victory even if it was led by either Tang of Shang or King Wu of Zhou.' As of now, the roads are covered with the remains of the dead and the people have yet to see your virtuous deeds. You should order all commandery and county officials to ensure that the dead are properly buried, so as to showcase your sympathy and compassion by following the benevolent acts of King Wen of Zhou." Yuan Shao appointed Cui Yan as a Cavalry Commandant (骑都尉).

In 200 CE, when Yuan Shao was preparing for a campaign against a rival warlord Cao Cao, he set up military garrisons at Liyang (黎阳) and Yan Ford (延津). Cui Yan attempted to dissuade him from going to war by saying, "The Emperor is in Xu and the people's hopes are with him. Why don't you faithfully perform your duties by defending the border and maintaining peace within your jurisdiction?" Yuan Shao refused to listen to Cui Yan and insisted on attacking Cao Cao, but ended up being defeated by Cao at the decisive Battle of Guandu later that year. After Yuan Shao died in 202, his sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang formed their own military forces and started fighting for control over their father's territories in northern China. Both Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang wanted Cui Yan on their side, but Cui refused to help either of them and claimed that he was ill. As a consequence, he was imprisoned by Yuan Shang, but was later saved by Yin Kui (阴夔) and Chen Lin.

Service under Cao Cao

In 205, after Cao Cao had defeated the Yuan brothers and taken over Ji Province, he wanted to recruit Cui Yan to serve as an aide-de-camp under him. He told the latter, "According to official records, there are 300,000 troops under my command now. (Ji Province) is indeed a large province." Cui Yan replied, "The Empire is in a state of chaos and the Nine Provinces are divided, while the Yuan brothers fight among themselves and the bodies of the dead are scattered throughout the wilderness. The people have yet to see how your forces will bring benevolent rule and relief aid to them and liberate them from war and disaster, but now the first thing you do is to check the records for the numbers of troops and military equipment you've obtained. Is this what the people in this province expect of you?" Those present at the scene were all startled by Cui Yan's response. Cao Cao's facial expression changed and he thanked Cui Yan for his advice.

In the following year, when Cao Cao left Ji Province to attack Yuan Shao's nephew Gao Gan in Bing Province, he left his son Cao Pi in charge of Ye, the capital of Ji Province, and instructed Cui Yan to mentor Cao Pi. Once, when Cao Pi went on a hunting excursion to enjoy himself, Cui Yan wrote a long letter to him, haranguing the former on overly indulging in personal pleasures and neglecting his duties. Cao Pi later sent a reply, stating that he had destroyed his hunting equipment and thanking Cui Yan for his lecture.

In 208, when Cao Cao became the Han Chancellor, Cui Yan was appointed as a Senior Clerk in the East and West Bureaus. The order from the Han imperial court conferring the appointment on Cui Yan read, "You possess the style of Boyi and the integrity of Shi Yu (史鱼). Corrupt officials will mend their ways out of admiration for you while men of valour will strive harder after being inspired by you. You will be serving as a role model in these times, therefore you are hereby appointed to the East Bureau."

In 216, Cao Cao was granted the title of a vassal king, King of Wei, by Emperor Xian of Han and was allowed to set up an autonomous vassal kingdom, which was nominally still under the Han dynasty. Cui Yan was appointed as a Master of Writing (尚书) in Cao Cao's vassal kingdom. At the time, Cao Cao had yet to designate one of his sons as his heir apparent and he was considering Cao Zhi, so he secretly sought the opinions of his subjects, including Cui Yan. Cui Yan openly replied, "According to Confucian ethics, a man's heir apparent should be his eldest son. Besides, Cao Pi is kind, filial and intelligent, so he is a suitable successor. I fully support him until my death." Cao Cao was very impressed with Cui Yan for adhering to Confucian rules of propriety (and succession). (Cui Yan's niece, Lady Cui, was Cao Zhi's wife, so Cao Cao expected Cui Yan to support Cao Zhi, but Cui Yan followed the rules and endorsed Cao Pi (the eldest son) instead.) He promoted Cui Yan to Commandant of the Capital (中尉) later.

Death

Cui Yan once recommended Yang Xun, who was from Julu Commandery, to serve in the government. Although Yang Xun's abilities were not up to expectations, Cui Yan still nominated him on the grounds of excellent moral conduct. Cao Cao heeded Cui Yan's suggestion and employed Yang Xun. After Emperor Xian enfeoffed Cao Cao as a vassal king, Yang Xun wrote a memorial to the imperial court, glorifying Cao's achievements in his military campaigns and showering Cao with words of praise. Yang Xun was ridiculed by many people for his flattering behaviour; Cui Yan was also cast in a negative light because he was deemed as having recommended a sycophant to join the civil service. After the incident, Cui Yan read Yang Xun's memorial and wrote to him,

According to the historian Chen Shou, who wrote Cui Yan's biography in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), Cui's true intention in writing those remarks was to mock Yang Xun's critics for being too eager to disparage Yang without making any careful consideration. However, Cui Yan was accused of displaying arrogance and defaming Cao Cao in his letter. Cao Cao angrily said, "There is a saying, 'I gave birth to a daughter, that is all.' 'That is all' is not a complimentary phrase. He meant disrespect when he wrote, 'There will be changes as time passes.'" Cao Cao then had Cui Yan stripped off his post, thrown into prison, and ordered to perform hard labour. Later, he sent agents to observe Cui Yan in prison and they reported that Cui continued to remain defiant. Cao Cao issued an official statement, "Even though Cui Yan is serving a sentence, he still receives high numbers of visitors in prison. He glares at them straight in the eye as if he has grievances." He then forced Cui Yan to commit suicide.

The Weilüe recorded more details of the events leading to Cui Yan's death. It mentioned that Cui Yan's letter to Yang Xun fell into the hands of Cui Yan's enemies, who accused him of defaming Cao Cao. Cao Cao felt that Cui Yan was discrediting him so he had the latter arrested, imprisoned, head shaved, and sent to perform hard labour. Later, Cui Yan's enemies told Cao Cao, "When Cui Yan serves his sentence, he glares at people straight in the eye as if he is filled with resentment." Cao Cao believed them and wanted Cui Yan to die so he sent an official to inform Cui, "You've three days to live." Cui Yan did not understand what the official meant and he continued to live on for several days. When the official reported to Cao Cao that Cui Yan was alive and well, Cao furiously said, "Cui Yan is forcing me to use the sword on him!" The official went to see Cui Yan again and explained to the latter that Cao Cao actually wanted him to kill himself within three days. Cui Yan said, "How silly of me. I didn't know that he actually wanted me to do this." He committed suicide after that.

Cui Yan's execution was widely considered as unfair. In his work, Yi Zhongtian proposed three reasons why Cao Cao wanted to have Cui Yan killed:

• Cao Cao's infamous skepticism got the better out of him in this case. Cao had long been suspicious of his own subordinates since many of them actually disagreed of Cao's moves to take the supreme power. Cao Cao especially distrusted the "morally perfect" people since their contemporary "moral codes" included the loyalty and commitment for the existing Han dynasty, not for Cao Cao's rise to power. Cao Cao also disliked the contemporary clans of "intelligentsia nobility" (士族) whom he had to politically cooperate with but could never completely relied on. Cui Yan unfortunately belonged to both categories.

• Cao Cao had been upset about being publicly reprimanded by Cui Yan after the victories in Ji Province years ago.

• Cao Cao was actually displeased of how Cui Yan openly expressed his opinion in the choice of heir apparent despite Cao Cao's aim to sought the opinion only in secret. In contemporary politics when hidden moves were common, the public statements were occasionally believed as only "half-truth", and Cui Yan's honesty, although genuine, under the distrustful eyes of Cao Cao were interpreted as having hidden agenda. Moreover, Cui Yan's openness could be seen as a moral blow to Cao Cao's secret way of surveying, which strongly upset Cao Cao.

Physical appearance

Cui Yan was described as having a lofty and dignified bearing, a clear voice, sparkling eyes, and a beard four chi long. He commanded much respect from his colleagues in the Han imperial court with his august appearance and demeanour, and even Cao Cao admired and feared him.

Anecdotes

Once, when Cao Cao was about to meet an emissary from the Xiongnu, he felt that he looked ugly and might not be able to command respect so he ordered Cui Yan to impersonate him while he carried a sword and stood beside Cui, pretending to be a bodyguard. After the meeting, Cao Cao sent someone to ask the Xiongnu emissary, "What are your thoughts about the King of Wei?" The Xiongnu emissary replied, "The King looks handsome and extraordinary. However, the man who was carrying a sword and standing beside him is a real hero." Cao Cao had the emissary killed when he heard that.

Cui Yan was a close friend of Sima Lang. When Sima Lang's younger brother Sima Yi was still young, Cui Yan once told Sima Lang, "Your younger brother is intelligent, perceptive and strong. He'll surpass you in the future." Sima Lang disagreed with Cui Yan and they often debated about this.

Cui Yan's younger cousin, Cui Lin, was not highly regarded when he was young. However, Cui Yan said, "He's what we call a 'late bloomer'. He'll go far in the future." When Sun Li and Lu Yu first came to serve under Cao Cao, Cui Yan said, "Sun Li is energetic, strong and decisive, while Lu Yu is alert, sensible and resilient. Both of them are capable of shouldering great responsibilities in the future." As Cui Yan foresaw, Cui Lin, Sun Li and Lu Yu rose to prominence later and they became important officials in the state of Cao Wei (established by Cao Pi) during the Three Kingdoms period.

Two of Cui Yan's ex-classmates, Gongsun Fang and Song Jie (宋阶), who studied together with him under Zheng Xuan, died early. Cui Yan adopted their children and treated them as if they were his own children.

Appraisal

The Xianxian Xingzhuang (先贤行状) mentioned, "Cui Yan was noble and virtuous, possessed foresight, promoted ethics, and stood dignified in the imperial court. According to early records from Wei, his bureau was orderly and free of corruption throughout the ten years or so when he held office. He was well versed in literary and military arts, and had recommended many talents to serve in the government. ..."

Chen Shou, who wrote Cui Yan's biography in the Sanguozhi, commented on Cui as follows, "Cui Yan's moral character was the most sound, ... yet they were unable to avoid being killed. What a pity!" After writing about Cui Yan's death, Chen added: "Cao Cao was a suspicious person. He killed those whom he could not tolerate or bore grudges against because they had shown disrespect towards him. Among his victims – Kong Rong, Xu You, Lou Gui and others – Cui Yan is the most lamented. Until today, Cui Yan's case is still regarded as one of grave injustice."

During the reign of the Wei emperor Cao Rui in the Three Kingdoms period, Cui Lin (Cui Yan's cousin) and Chen Qun had a discussion on famous people from Ji Province. Cui Lin felt that Cui Yan was the most outstanding among all of them, but Chen Qun disagreed, saying that "intelligence alone is insufficient for a person to survive". Cui Lin replied, "We only get to see a real man by sheer coincidence. People like you only consider obtaining fame and fortune the best achievements in life."

生平

早期

二十九岁时与公孙方等人结交，并在郑玄处求学，但是学期未过一年，就恰逢黄巾之乱，徐州黄巾军攻破了北海郡（194年），郑玄与其子弟到不其山避难，当时粮十分缺乏，玄只好停学，辞谢其子弟，因此琰被遣散，到处都是盗寇，西去道路不通，于是周旋于青，徐，兖，豫四州郊野，向东去寿春，向南到长江，洞庭湖地区。离开家乡四年后才回家，在家只以弹琴读书自娱。

为袁绍属下时

袁绍听到琰名誉后徵召，时绍兵专横暴虐，挖掘坟墓，琰劝绍:「昔日荀况（荀子）有说道：『对士兵平日不教训，战斗力不强，即使是商汤及周文王都不能拿那些人来打胜仗』现在道路上尸骨暴露，百姓都未看到主公的德政，应令各郡县掩埋尸骸来显示伤痛及爱心，追随周文王之仁慈之举。」于是被任为骑都尉。

后来绍要出兵于黎阳，镇守延津，琰说:「天子现于许昌，百姓都想支持朝廷，本军不如谨守治境，向天子述职，方便可安定此区。」但绍不听，因此于官渡被挫败，绍死后，其子袁谭和袁尚夺位时争取琰，但琰以病来推辞，因此获罪，被关进监狱，终被阴夔和陈琳营救才免死。

为曹操属下后

袁谭被打败后投靠曹操任冀州牧，徵召琰为别驾从事，于宴会上对琰说：「昨日查核户籍，可达三十万之多，冀州可称为大州了！」但琰说:「现在九州分裂，二袁（袁谭和袁尚）大动干戈，冀州人民尸体遍野，没听说王师以仁政为先导，访问民众风俗，救民于火，反而却计算甲兵多少，把此当成大事，难道冀州百姓都是这样来期望明公（曹操）吗？」于是操肃然动容，向琰表示歉意，当时在场的宾客都大惊失色。

建安十一年（206年），曹操征讨并州，留下崔琰在邺城辅佐曹丕。曹丕照旧外出打猎，改换服装、车辆，兴趣全在追逐猎物上。琰规劝:「曾听周文王不敢打猎为乐，《尚书》记载此时以为后人借鉴，鲁隐公外出观鱼，《春秋》因其非礼而讥讽之。这是周公，孔丘格言，两部经典有所明义，夏桀无道，成为商朝一面镜子，《诗经》说道:『殷鉴不远。』;王者的疾日不该举乐，《礼记》记载此事作为忌戒。这又是比较切近的得失成败的比例，不能不深思明察啊！袁氏家族富强，而其公子任意放纵，游玩作乐，极为奢侈，正义之举天下不闻，明哲君子顿刻间便离去，勇武壮士不肯为其为爪来使用，这就决定了袁氏虽拥有了百万民众，地盘跨过河北，却没立足之地。今国家衰败，恩惠施予尚不普遍，百姓都想著德政。况且明公亲自参与军旅徵讨，上上下下操劳辛苦，谨慎地使行为端正，思虑治国最高战略，对内所有鉴戒，对外发扬高远节操，深加思索对太子责任，宝贵身份。而现在穿著山泽园囿卑贱服装，急于四处奔驰，身临险地，志向只限于打猎小娱乐，忘了国家社稷的重要，这实在令有识者痛心啊!希望能烧毁猎具，舍弃戎服来满足众人愿望，不让老臣获罪于天。」后来曹丕果真听其教诲，做到以上所有东西，还说其再犯错就再给教诲。

建安十三年（208年），曹操成为了丞相，崔琰为东西曹掾属征事。起初授于其东曹职务时文告说：「君有伯夷风范，史鱼耿直，反贪夫因君之名誉而变得清廉，壮士因崇尚君名誉而更勉励自己，这是可作为时代表率的，所以授君为东曹一职，履行职责。」

建安十八年（213年），魏国初建，任命崔琰为尚书，这时尚未立太子，临灾侯曹植有才华及爱心。曹操犹豫，发出信函命令在外地秘密访谈。崔琰信不封口答覆:「我懂《春秋》有长子当立大意，并五官中郎将（曹丕）仁孝聪慧，应该继承大业。琰将用死来坚守原则。」由于曹植是崔琰的侄女婿，操十分称赞崔琰的大公无私与高风亮节，喟然叹息，升其为中尉。

崔琰体态雄伟，声音洪亮，眉目疏朗，须长四尺，很有威重的仪态，再加上个性耿直，勇于提出谏言，朝廷中人均对他很是敬仰，而曹操对他也有几分敬畏。崔琰曾经推荐过钜鹿人杨训，说他虽然才能不足，但清廉贞洁，遵守正道，曹操于是以礼徵召杨训。

引咎而死

曹操为魏王时，崔琰所推荐的杨训上表称赞曹操功绩，夸述曹操盛德，就有人讥笑杨训虚伪、迎合权势，认为崔琰推介不当。崔琰从杨训那里拿表文来看，便写信给杨训：「读过你的表文了，写得很好！时势啊时势，总会有变化的时候（省表，事佳耳！时乎时乎，会当有变时）。」崔琰的本意是讽刺那些人喜欢谴责、呵叱别人，而不寻求情理。但有人诬陷说崔琰此信是傲世不满且怨恨咒骂，曹操便生气说：「谚语说『生女耳（只不过是生个女儿罢了）』，『耳』不是个好词，『会有变的时候』的意思为很不恭顺。」于是崔琰被罚为徒隶，派人监视，但他也不屈服，曹操便下令文：「崔琰虽然受刑，但仍与宾客来往，门庭若市，接待宾客时胡须卷曲，双目直视，好像有怨忿。」于是赐崔琰死。根据傅玄著作《傅子》记载，是丁仪的谗言冤死了崔琰。

《魏略》记载，有人得到崔琰的信并用来包裹笼，且拿著笼在街上行走。当时有位与崔琰不和的人，从远处看见用来包裹笼的信纸上有崔琰的名字，就向曹操告发崔琰。曹操认为崔琰心怀不满，于是将崔琰收监，并削去他的头发要他当劳役。那人又向曹操告发说：「崔琰虽为劳役，但他胡须卷曲，双目直视，好像有怨忿。」曹操亦对此认同，便想杀死崔琰。曹操派人去处理崔琰，那官员向崔琰说：「你的事三日后会有消息。」崔琰不明白这是甚么意思，几日后，那官员向曹操告知崔琰未死，曹操愤怒地说：「难道崔琰非要我动刀不可吗！」那官员将此言告知崔琰，崔琰说：「我真不好，没想到曹公是这样的意思！」然后就自杀。

由于曹操性忌，凡是不可容忍的人如孔融、许攸及娄圭都曾是曹操老友，但皆为不恭敬者被杀，而崔琰则是世人长年痛惜之者。崔琰死后，同朝的毛玠十分不愉快。

性格特徵

崔琰相貌端正而有威仪，眉目疏朗，声音洪亮，四尺胡须整齐秀长，直垂胸脯，仪态十分威严，入朝每每引起群臣的瞩目，连曹操都对其相当敬畏，但其性格朴实、言辞迟钝，喜欢击剑、崇尚武艺，因此于二十三岁时乡里按规定将其转为正卒时才感慨发奋，才研读《论语》、《韩诗》，使到其有文武的一面。

与司马兄弟（司马朗和司马懿）要好，曾对司马朗评论司马懿明哲公允，刚强果断英勇，没人可比。也有评论过其堂弟崔林说其大器晚成的人，最终必有发展。又对孙礼说其诚信耿直，刚毅果断，又对卢植儿子卢毓说其清醒机警，深明事理，百折不饶。还对礼，毓说可做三公，果真，林，礼及毓成宰辅。还有与要好朋友公孙方和宋阶早逝，因此崔琰就抚养其子女，对待其子为亲生子，其明鉴卓识，笃于情义。

逸事

《世说新语》捉刀的故事：魏王曹操将要接见匈奴使臣，但自认容貌丑陋，无法在外国称雄，就命一表人材的崔琰假装魏王，接见匈奴使臣。曹操自己扮成侍卫的武士，持刀站在床头。接见完毕，派间谍问匈奴使臣：「魏王怎么样？」使臣回答：「魏王气派高雅，仪表非凡，但是床头捉刀人才是英雄啊！」曹操听到此事，就派人追杀这个会识人的使臣。

家庭

• 崔密，崔琰父亲

　• 崔霸，崔琰兄长

　　• 崔氏，崔霸女，嫁曹植。《魏晋世语》记载，崔氏的衣装过于华美，曹操登台看到后，认为她违反了穿著华丽的禁令，回家后崔氏就被赐死了。

　　　• 崔谅，《世说新语》记载为崔霸孙，《冀州记》则记载为崔琰之孙，《新唐书》则记载为崔琰子

　　　　• 崔遵，崔霸曾孙，后燕太常卿

　　　　• 崔毖，崔琰曾孙

评价

• 陈寿于《三国志》评论：「崔琰高格最优，鲍勋秉正无亏，而皆不免其身，惜哉！大雅贵「既明且哲」，虞书尚「直而能温」，自非兼才，畴克备诸！」

• 曹操：「君有伯夷之风，史鱼之直，贪夫慕名而清，壮士尚称而厉，斯可以率时者已。故授东曹，往践厥职。」

• 傅玄《傅子》：「武皇帝，至明也。崔琰、徐奕，一时清贤，皆以忠信显于魏朝；丁仪间之，徐奕失位而崔琰被诛。」

• 《先贤行状》：「琰清忠高亮，雅识经远，推方直道，正色于朝。魏氏初载，委授铨衡，总齐清议，十有馀年。文武群才，多所明拔。朝廷归高，天下称平。」

• 鱼豢《魏略》：「明帝时，崔林尝与司空陈群共论冀州人士，称琰为首。群以『智不存身』贬之。林曰：『大丈夫为有邂逅耳，即如卿诸人，良足贵乎！』」

• 袁宏《三国名臣颂》：「崔生高朗，折而不挠，所以策名魏武、执笏霸朝者，盖以汉主当阳，魏后北面者哉！若乃一旦进玺，君臣易位，则崔生所以不与，魏氏所以不容。夫江湖所以济舟，亦所以覆舟；仁义所以全身，亦所以亡身。然而先贤玉摧于前，来哲攘袂于后，岂天怀发中，而名教束物者乎！」

• 严从：「崔子矫然，植青松之操，鲠词直对，则左右失容，捐生取义，千载称美，虽遇谗谮，荩亦其素志矣。」

• 罗贯中：「清河崔琰，天性坚刚；虬髯虎目，铁石心肠；奸邪辟易，声节显昂；忠于汉主，千古名扬！」

• 梁啓超：「古者任官，各举其所知，内不避亲，外不避仇。汉、魏之间，尚存此意，故左雄在尚书，而天下号得人；毛玠、崔琰为东曹掾，而士皆砥砺名节。后世虑选人之请托，铨部之徇私也，于是崔亮、裴光庭定为年劳资格之法，孙丕扬定为掣签之法。防之诚密矣，然而奇才不能进，庸才不能退，则考绩废也；不为人择地，不为地择人，则吏治隳也。」

• 易中天：「崔琰是三国时最为德高望重的名士，正派儒雅，又有远见卓识，仪表堂堂，凛然于朝，曹操也被他的一身正气所慑服。崔琰之死，是当时最大的冤案。崔琰用死证明自己是君子。曹操用崔琰的死，证明自己是奸雄。」

艺术形象

三国演义

崔琰初为袁绍谋事。袁绍败亡后，曹操辟他为官。崔琰刚正不阿，官做到尚书。后来反对曹操进位魏王而入狱。狱中大骂曹操欺君奸贼，被曹操下令杖杀于狱中。

影视

• 1975年电视剧《洛神》：周吉

• 1987年歌仔剧《金缕歌》：方龙

• 1994年电视剧《杨丽花歌仔戏洛神》：林义雄

• 2002年电视剧《洛神》：江汉

• 2013年电视剧《新洛神》：隋抒洋

• 2017年电视剧《大军师司马懿之军师联盟》：王泽清

• 2018年电视剧《三国机密之潜龙在渊》：张雷

漫画

• 《苍天航路》（王欣太）

延伸阅读