Daoist Figures:Yu Liang 庾亮

Yu Liang
(289–340) A celebrated scholar-official of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. His courtesy name was Yuangui, and he was from Yanling in Yingchuan (now part of Henan Province). He was the elder brother of Empress Mu Yu, the wife of Emperor Ming of Jin.

During the reign of Emperor Yuan, he held positions including Secretary of the Western Section, Military Advisor to the Prime Minister, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting, as well as Palace Attendant and Cavalier Inquisitor. In the time of Emperor Ming, he served as Supervisor of the Secretariat and was granted the title of Duke of Yongchang Prefecture for his meritorious deeds. When Emperor Cheng ascended the throne, he was additionally appointed Palace Attendant and later transferred to the position of Prefect of the Secretariat. He subsequently governed Wuchang and held the post of Minister of Education.

He embraced both Taoism and Confucianism, excelled in philosophical discussions, and had a fondness for the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi, earning high regard in contemporary critiques, which noted that he was "far more virtuous than Pei Yan" (Book of Jin·Biography of Yu Liang).

He held in high esteem Zhai Jun, a representative Taoist figure of his time, and frequently visited him to seek guidance. He stated: "I admire the demeanor of such a person and often inquire about the Dao at the cottage of 'No Whatness.' The guest [I] imagines the mysterious pearl [of wisdom], and the host [Zhai Jun] bestows his insights. Bathed in the Dao and saturated with its purity, I am naturally drawn to the essence of reality" (Eulogy to Gentleman Zhai).

His admiration for Zhai Jun was, in fact, an admiration for the "perfect man" in Taoist thought. He elaborated: "What is called the 'perfect man' embodies extraordinary capacity, with a spirit transcending the boundaries of the material world. He encompasses all movements yet remains uniquely merged with the profound essence" (ibid.).

However, his ideological inclinations were complex. As a prominent scholar-official of the Eastern Jin, he leaned toward Laozi and Zhuangzi; yet as a pragmatic statesman, he actively promoted Confucianism and was deeply concerned about the decline of Confucian learning at the time. He lamented: "The legacy of Confucius (from the Zhu and Si rivers) grows distant, and the elegance of poetry and music fades further. The younger generation indulges freely, no longer upholding the classics and historical records; those in official positions focus solely on immediate governance, failing to engage with the sacred texts. As a result, the Book of Songs and Book of History gather dust, and eulogies fall silent. Looking up to the past and reflecting on the present, how can one not sigh in regret!" (Edict on Establishing Educational Institutions in Wuchang).

He believed that neglecting Confucian education would lead to severe consequences: "When those above decline and abandon teaching, those below will evade responsibility without shame" (Text for the Sacrifice to Confucius at the 释奠 Ceremony). Citing historical facts, he highlighted the great power of Confucian thought: "What fortification is comparable to that of ritual and righteousness, even stronger than a city of gold or a moat of boiling water" (ibid.). He advocated for the development of Confucianism and the establishment of schools alongside military training, mandating that the children of court officials attend school.

His biography is recorded in Volume 73 of the Book of Jin. He originally had a collection of 21 volumes, which has been lost. Some of his works are compiled in Volumes 36 and 37 of the Complete Prose of the Jin Dynasty.