Who is Hua Tan 华谭

Hua Tan
(c. 246~322) A scholar and metaphysician of the Western Jin Dynasty, styled Lingsi, and a native of Guangling (present-day Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province). He was an indefatigable learner and skilled in debate.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, he held positions such as Langzhong (a court gentleman), Taizi Sheren (a member of the crown prince's retinue), and Benguo Zhongzheng (an official in charge of evaluating local talents in his native region). During the reign of Emperor Hui, he served as the magistrate of Jia County, where he achieved remarkable administrative results. Later, he was promoted to Neishi (governor) of Lujiang and concurrently appointed as Suiyuan General. For his role in suppressing the uprising led by Shi Bing, he was awarded the title of Duting Hou (a noble rank). In his later years, he served as Mishu Jian (director of the imperial library).

His ideological tendencies aligned with Wei-Jin metaphysics, advocating "tǐdào" (embodying the Dao) and "yóushén" (wandering with the spirit) – that is, advocating transcendence beyond the tangible real world to comprehend the emptiness and motionless ontological essence. He stated: "Those who embody the Dao are sages; those who wander with the spirit are wise men. Only by embodying the Dao can one place their will beyond the physical form; only by wandering with the spirit can one fathom the origin of all changes" (as seen in Chuxue Ji [Primary Learning Notes], Volume 17).

He adhered to the Taoist idea of "governing the dynamic with the static," asserting that "remaining motionless in tranquility allows all things to serve me" (ibid.). He also upheld the Taoist theory that "words cannot fully convey meaning," believing that only by transcending language and imagery can one manipulate all mechanisms, claiming that "abiding in profound silence allows all mechanisms to operate for me" (ibid.). His advocacy of "embodying the Dao," "wandering with the spirit," "governing the dynamic with the static," and "words cannot fully convey meaning" precisely reflects the fundamental ideas of Taoism.

Hua Tan has a biography in Volume 52 of The Book of Jin. He originally had a collected works in 2 volumes, which is now lost. Some of his works are compiled in Volume 79 of Quan Jin Wen (Complete Prose of the Jin Dynasty). According to his biography in The Book of Jin, he once wrote Bian Dao (Discourses on the Dao) in 30 volumes. When passing the Pu River, he composed Zhuangzi Zan (Eulogy to Zhuangzi). He also wrote Xin Lun (New Discourses) in 10 volumes, which is entirely lost, with only a few fragments surviving today.