Xu You
Xu You may refer to:
Xu You (Han dynasty)
Xu You (died 204), courtesy name Ziyuan, was a strategist serving under the warlord Yuan Shao in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was known to be greedy by nature.
Xu was a close friend of Cao Cao and during the Battle of Guandu, Xu decided to leave Yuan Shao and join Cao. This was because Shen Pei had informed Yuan that Xu's family had been locked up for charges of corruption. At that time, Xu was suggesting a strategy to Yuan and when Yuan received the news, he sneered at Xu and said, "You still have the cheek to present your strategies in front of me.".
Xu was furious and left Yuan to join Cao. He suggested that Cao attack Wuchao, where Yuan's army had their supplies stored. It was due to Xu's plan that Cao managed to win a strategic victory over Yuan's massive army in the Battle of Guandu. Later, Xu showed disrespect when Cao paid his respects in front of Yuan's grave, and was killed by Xu Chu.
See also
Xu You (hermit)
Xu You or Hsü Yu (simplified Chinese: 许由; traditional Chinese: 許由; pinyin: Xǔ Yóu) was a legendary Chinese recluse who lived during the reign of the Emperor Yao (traditionally c. 2356–2255 BC), residing next to the Ying River. The emperor allegedly offered him the royal throne towards the end of his rule.
Life
Xu You denounced the society and retreated to the north of Ying River. Living a simple life, he scooped river water with his bare hands, even though he had a hulu (an ancient water bottle shaped like a gourd). Xu was a disciple of the female teacher Gnaw Gap, whom Xu described as "[blending] a myriad things [...] senior to high antiquity but is not aged". The legendary ruler Emperor Yao regarded Xu with utmost respect and requested that he be his teacher. They shared a positive relationship, towards the end of Yao's rule (traditionally believed to be circa 2256 BC), the ruler chose Xu as his successor. (Much later, the Chinese sage Confucius greatly lauded Yao's decision to appoint Xu as the next emperor in line.) However, Xu refused to accept the throne, commenting that he had "no need for all under heaven". Legend goes on to state that an abashed Xu "washed out" his ears' contents into the Ying River, contaminating it. After Xu died, he was apparently buried at the summit of Mount Chi. The Han Dynasty "Grand Historian" Sima Qian mentioned Xu in a chapter of his work Records of the Grand Historian. Sima personally visited the alleged grave of Xu and wrote that Xu was an epitome of "highest virtue". Xu You is also depicted in a seventeenth-century Japanese artwork titled Xu You and Qao Fu, illustrating the popular tale of another fellow hermit detouring from the Ying River because of the filth Xu had contributed to it by washing out his ears there. It is now housed at the British Museum.
Xu You (Southern Tang)
Xu You (Chinese: 徐游; pinyin: Xú Yóu; c. 960 – ?), was a Chinese official most active in the Southern Tang dynasty as a court minister, royal tutor, and artist. A member of the Xu family, comprising many government officials and civil servants, and descendant of Emperor Wu, he served as the Grand Guardian of Li Yu and enjoyed a close relationship with the royal family.
Early life and career
Xu You was born in circa 960, in Haizhou, China. His father was Xu Zhihui (徐知诲), one of Xu Wen's five sons. Thus, by default, Xu was already respected for being Xu Wen's grandson. Additionally, many of Xu's relatives worked for the government. During the reign of Emperor Yuanzong, he became the Grand Guardian of Li Yu, who was heir apparent to the throne. As Grand Guardian, Xu successfully proposed the construction of a "clear mind pavilion", from which imperial commands would be relayed, on the palace grounds at Jinling. He was also the chancellor of the capital. After the fall of the Southern Tang dynasty, Xu You was appointed as a Song court director alongside Xu Xuan (徐铉).
