Who is Jia Yi 贾谊?
paulpeng贾谊 Jia Yi (200–168 BCE) was a thinker and philosopher of the Western Han Dynasty. He hailed from Luoyang (now in Henan Province). From a young age, he displayed exceptional talent and profound mastery of the works of various philosophers and schools. In his 20s, he was summoned by Emperor Wen of Han to serve as a Grand Scholar, eventually rising to the position of Senior Grand Master of Remonstrance. Later, he became a tutor to the Prince of Changsha and the Prince of Liang.
Jia Yi deeply analyzed the historical lessons of the Qin Dynasty, arguing that its rapid collapse stemmed from "failing to practice benevolence and righteousness." He emphasized the need to implement benevolence and righteousness to pacify the people. He also advocated the strategy of "establishing numerous vassal states while weakening their power" to reduce the strength of regional principalities and strengthen the central government of the Western Han.
However, he was profoundly influenced by Taoist thought and revered the "Perfect Man" (至人) and "True Man" (真人). In his *Ode to the Roc Bird*, he wrote: "The Perfect Man casts off worldly things, walking alone with the Tao," and "The True Man is indifferent, resting alone with the Tao. He discards wisdom and sheds form, transcending beyond self. In the vast and boundless void, he soars with the Tao." He advocated following the example of the "Perfect Man" and "True Man" described by Zhuangzi, breaking free from all material attachments to pursue the "Tao"—a realm of nothingness. He also stated: "Life is like floating, death is like resting. Calm as the stillness of a deep abyss, adrift like an untethered boat" (*Ibid.*). Like Zhuangzi, he denied the qualitative distinction between life and death, advocating freedom and carefreeness akin to an untethered boat.
His biographies can be found in Volume 84 of *Records of the Grand Historian* and Volumes 14 and 18 of *Book of Han*. His works include *New Writings* and *Ode to the Roc Bird*, compiled into the *Collected Works of Jia Yi*.
