Yin Zhongkan 殷仲堪

Yin Zhongkan 殷仲堪 (d. 399) was a military commander of the Eastern Jin dynasty 東晉 (317-420) and a famous representative of the school of "pure conversation" (qingtan 清談). He hailed from the commandery of Chenjun 陳郡 (today's Huaiyang 淮陽, Henan) and began his career as assistant editorial director (zuo zhuzuolang 佐著作郎) in the staff of Xie Xuan 謝玄 (343-388), the commander of the critical garrison of Jingkou 京口 (present-day Zhenjiang 鎮江, Jiangsu). Later on, he was appointed governor (taishou 太守) of Jinling 晉陵, and then palace cadet in the household of the Heir Apparent (taizi zhongshuzi 太子中庶子), and finally Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate (huangmen shilang 黃門侍郎).

Later, Emperor Xiaowu 晉孝武帝 (r. 372-396), in order to utilise regional military power to counter the influence of Sima Daozi 司馬道子 (364-403), the Prince of Guji 會稽, appointed Yin Zhongkan as Area Commander-in-Chief (dudu 都督) of the provinces Jingzhou 荊州, Yizhou 益州, and Ningzhou 寧州, as well as General Wielding Authority (zhenwei jiangjun 振威將軍) and regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of Jingzhou.

In 397, Wang Gong 王恭 (350-398) rose in rebellion to avenge Wang Guobao's 王國寶 (350-397) political misdeeds. Yin Zhongkan joined this rebellion. The following year, when Wang Gong launched another rebellion, Zhongkan led his army eastward along the Yangtze River, advancing as far as Wuhu 蕪湖. However, upon hearing that Liu Laozhi 劉牢之 (d. 402) had turned against Wang Gong and that Gong had been killed, he withdrew his troops to Xunyang 尋陽 (today's Jiujiang 九江, Jiangxi), where he formed an alliance with Huan Xuan (369-404) and Yang Quanqi 楊佺期 (d. 399). The three staged a further rebellion, but Yin's army was defeated, and he was captured, after which he committed suicide.

During his lifetime, Yin Zhongkan was renowned for his elegant expressions. Of his collected writings, only a few pieces endure, such as fragments of the rhapsodies Youyuan fu 游園賦 and Jiangli fu 將離賦, the letter Zhi Xie Xuan shu 致謝玄書, and the essay Da Huan Xuan Sihao lun 答桓玄四皓論.