Jia Yi
Encyclopedia
Jia Yi was a Chinese
poet and statesman of the Han Dynasty
.
.
When he reached the age of 18, he was already well known in his county for his ability in poems and essay-writing, and was referred to as "Jia sheng", i.e. "Student Jia". Soon, he was recommended by Wu Gong (吳公) to Emperor Wen of Han
. He soon achieved a high status but was repulsed by older, high-ranking officials at the time such as Zhou Bo (周勃) and Guan Ying (灌嬰).
Jia Yi made many suggestions to Emperor Wen about governing his empire. As an advocate of Confucian
reforms, attacking Xiongnu
and lessening the power of local governors, he made enemies at court and lost his position. He became the tutor to the King of Changsha, a place he disliked as he feared its humid climate would lead to an early death. When passing the Xiang river
, he wrote several poems grieving for his sad fate and compared himself with Qu Yuan
, as he believed he was sent into exile. Changsha was known as "The home of Qu [Yuan] and Jia [Yi]" (屈賈之鄉) because of their influence.
In 173 BC, he was recalled by the emperor to the capital Luoyang
, allegedly to be asked about matters of mysticism by Emperor Wen, and was later made a tutor of his youngest son, Prince Huai of Liang (梁懷王), true name Liu Yi (劉揖).
In 169 BC, Prince Huai of Liang, who he tutored, fell off a horse and died. The following year Jia committed suicide, allegedly out of feelings of responsibility for the incident.
(賦), poems in a mixed prose and poetry style that was popular in the Han Dynasty, and for his political works such as Guo Qin Lun (過秦論) and Zhi'An Ce (治安策), the latter mostly lost. Since he wrote favorably of social and ethical ideas attributed to Confucius and wrote an essay focused on the failings of the Legalist
-based Qin Dynasty
(221–206 BC), he was classified by other scholars in the Han Dynasty as a Confucian scholar
(rujia).
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
poet and statesman of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
.
Life
Jia Yi was born in 201 BCE in LuoyangLuoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
.
When he reached the age of 18, he was already well known in his county for his ability in poems and essay-writing, and was referred to as "Jia sheng", i.e. "Student Jia". Soon, he was recommended by Wu Gong (吳公) to Emperor Wen of Han
Emperor Wen of Han
Emperor Wen of Han was the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. His given name is Heng.Liu Heng was a son of Emperor Gao of Han and Consort Bo, later empress dowager...
. He soon achieved a high status but was repulsed by older, high-ranking officials at the time such as Zhou Bo (周勃) and Guan Ying (灌嬰).
Jia Yi made many suggestions to Emperor Wen about governing his empire. As an advocate of Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
reforms, attacking Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
and lessening the power of local governors, he made enemies at court and lost his position. He became the tutor to the King of Changsha, a place he disliked as he feared its humid climate would lead to an early death. When passing the Xiang river
Xiang River
The Xiang River , in older transliterations as the Siang River or Hsiang River, is a river in southern China...
, he wrote several poems grieving for his sad fate and compared himself with Qu Yuan
Qu Yuan
Qu Yuan was a Chinese poet who lived during the Warring States Period in ancient China. He is famous for his contributions to the poetry collection known as the Chu-ci...
, as he believed he was sent into exile. Changsha was known as "The home of Qu [Yuan] and Jia [Yi]" (屈賈之鄉) because of their influence.
In 173 BC, he was recalled by the emperor to the capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, allegedly to be asked about matters of mysticism by Emperor Wen, and was later made a tutor of his youngest son, Prince Huai of Liang (梁懷王), true name Liu Yi (劉揖).
In 169 BC, Prince Huai of Liang, who he tutored, fell off a horse and died. The following year Jia committed suicide, allegedly out of feelings of responsibility for the incident.
Works
He is known for his fùFu (poetry)
Fu is a kind of rhymed prose, or poetry style essay, popular in ancient China, especially during the Han Dynasty. The term fu is often used in a multiway contrast with the more purely poetic shi style, with the fixed-rhythm forms of poetry , and with various more explicitly prosaic forms of...
(賦), poems in a mixed prose and poetry style that was popular in the Han Dynasty, and for his political works such as Guo Qin Lun (過秦論) and Zhi'An Ce (治安策), the latter mostly lost. Since he wrote favorably of social and ethical ideas attributed to Confucius and wrote an essay focused on the failings of the Legalist
Legalism (Chinese philosophy)
In Chinese history, Legalism was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period, although the term itself was invented in the Han Dynasty and thus does not refer to an organized 'school' of thought....
-based Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
(221–206 BC), he was classified by other scholars in the Han Dynasty as a Confucian scholar
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
(rujia).