Hua Xin 華歆

Hua Xin 華歆 (157-231), courtesy name Ziyu 子魚, was a high official of the early Wei period 曹魏 (220-265).

He came from Gaotang 高唐 in the commandery of Pingyuan 平原 (today's Yucheng 禹城, Shandong) and was recommended as a filial and incorrupt person (xiaolian 孝廉), and appointed gentleman of the interior (langzhong 郎中) and then secretarial court gentleman (shangshu lang 尚書郎) . The ensuing promotion to governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Yuzhang 豫章 confronted him with the task to reconstruct a region afflicted by war and famine. Quite successful in this duty, he was greatly honoured by the local powerholder, the warlord Sun Ce 孫策. When attending Sun's banquets as a guest, Hua Xin was the only one displaying decent conduct.

In 200 he was called back into the capital, where he was made court gentleman for consultation (yilang 議郎) and military administrator of the Ministry of Works (can sikong junshi 參司空軍事). Shortly later he was made imperial secretary (shangshu 尚書), then palace attendant (shizhong 侍中), and succeeded Xun Yu 荀彧 as Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu ling 尚書令). When the warlord and factual regent Cao Cao 曹操 campaigned against Sun Quan 孫權 in the southeast, Hua Xin was made the supreme commander.

With the foundation of the kingdom of Wei 魏, he was given the post of Censor-in-chief (yushi dafu 大夫), and when Cao Pi 曹丕 (the eventual Emperor Wen of Wei 魏文帝, r. 220-226) succeeded his father as king of Wei, Hua was appointed Counsellor-in-chief (xiangguo 相國) and given the title of Marquis of Anle Village 安樂鄉侯.

In 220, Cao Pi assumed the title of emperor, and Hua Xin was made Minister of Education (situ 司徒). Emperor Ming 魏明帝 (r. 226－239 CE) promoted him by bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Boping 博平侯, and giving him the honorific title of Defender-in-chief (taiwei).

Hua Xin's posthumous title is Marquis Jing 博平敬侯.