from King Wen of Zhou through his son Duke Gao of Bi 畢公高. The Yan of Langye 琅邪顏氏 spawned Yan Zhitui. The Northern Wei's Eight Noble Xianbei surnames 八大贵族
capital Chang'an, to a highly reputed academic family (Langya Yan Clan, 琅邪颜氏) which served the court for many generations. One of his ancestors was Yan
Wencheng of Runan (汝南文成王 司馬亮; d. 291), third son Sima Zhou, Prince Wu of Langya (琅邪武王 司馬伷; 227–283), fourth son Sima Jing, Marquis of Qinghui (清惠侯 司馬京; 230–253)