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Jia Shan 賈山

Sep 27, 2011 © Ulrich Theobald

Jia Shan 賈山 was an independent political advisor during the early Former Han period 前漢 (206 BCE-8 CE).

He hailed from Yingchuan 穎川 (modern Yuxian 禹縣, Henan) and had studied all important writings of his time. He once memorialized to Emperor Wen 漢文帝 (r. 180-157 BCE) and warned him of the dangers of rebellion, quoting the example of the short-lived Qin dynasty 秦 (221-206 BCE). In his letter Zhiyan 至言 "Words of utmost importance" he suggested ending the extravagant lifestyle of the high ministers and the court. Emperor Wen was highly impressed by his straight words.

When the emperor wanted to issue an edict to prohibit the private casting of coins, Jia Shan again remonstrated against this plan. He also defended the Prince of Huainan 淮南 who was charged of high treason.

Jia Shan is credited with the authorship of an 8 chapters long book Jia Shan 賈山 that is unfortunatley lost.

Source:
Cang Xiuliang 倉修良, ed. (1996). Hanshu cidian 漢書辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), 804.