Yan Wuyou (545 BCE - ?), also known as Yan Yu, with the courtesy name Lu, was a native of the State of Lu. According to the "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Disciples of Zhongni," it states: "Lu was the father of Yan Hui. Father and son studied under Confucius at different times." The "School Sayings of Confucius: Biographies of Seventy-Two Disciples" records: "Yan You, father of Yan Hui, with the courtesy name Jilu, began studying under Confucius when he first started teaching at Queli. He was six years younger than Confucius." He is mentioned only once in The Analects.
Yan Wuyou was the father of Yan Hui (Confucius's most beloved disciple). When Confucius first established his teaching platform at the QueLi area in his early years, Yan Wuyou became one of his earliest students, studying under him. The young Yan Yuan (Yan Hui) died before his father. According to the "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Confucius's Disciples": "Hui died at the age of twenty-nine, and Confucius wept bitterly for him, saying: 'Since I had Hui, my disciples have become more devoted to each other.'" The Analects (Book 11: Xian Jin) records: "When Yan Yuan died, Yan Lu (Yan Wuyou) asked Confucius for his carriage to make an outer coffin for him. Confucius said: 'Whether talented or not, each speaks of his own son. When my son Li died, he had a coffin but no outer coffin. I did not go on foot to provide an outer coffin for him. Since I have followed after the high officials, I cannot go on foot.'" One can imagine Yan Lu's grief at his son's early death; his family was poor yet wished to give his son a lavish burial, so he asked Confucius to sell his carriage to cover the funeral expenses. This did not conform to Confucian rites (Li, propriety), so Confucius refused his request.
Very few records exist of Yan Lu's other words and deeds. However, because he was an early student of Confucius and the father of Confucius's most beloved disciple, Yan Hui (Yan Yuan), he was posthumously granted the title "Count of Qi" in the twenty-seventh year of the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (739 CE). In the second year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, he was further enfeoffed as "Marquis of Qufu." During the Zhishun era of the Yuan dynasty, he was posthumously honored as "Duke of Qi." In the ninth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming dynasty (1530 CE), his title was changed to "Venerable Yan of the Former Sages."