The viscosity and solubility of nitrogen in Y2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 melts have been systematically examined. The effects of nitrogen content on viscosity for Y-Al-Si-O-N melts and on Vickers hardness of oxynitride glasses also have been examined. Although the Viscosity of Y2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 melts was decreased, the solubility of nitrogen into the melts was increased with increased Y2O3 content. These results indicated that the yttrium ion behaved as a network modifier. Therefore, the structural units for viscous flow became small, and the amount of nonbridging oxygen increased in the melts when the Y2O3 content increased. The viscosity of Y-Al-Si-O-N melts and Vickers hardness of oxynitride glasses remarkably increased with increased nitrogen content. These results suggested that the substitution of nitrogen for oxygen in the melts may have led to a high average coordination of nonmetal atoms and that the increased cross-linking produced a more rigid glass network.