Zou Yan is a representative figure of Taoism, the founder of Yin and Yang School, and a native of Qi State at the end of the Warring States Period. The year of birth and death is unknown, but it is inferred that he was born in 324 BC and died in 250 BC, living over 70 years old. According to legend, the cemetery is located in Haozhuang Village, Xianggongzhuang Town, Zhangqiu City, Jinan City, Shandong Province today. The main theories are the Five Elements Theory, "The Theory of the End and Beginning of the Five Virtues" and "The Theory of the Great Nine States". He was also a famous scholar in Jixia Academy. Because he "explained everything about heaven", people at that time called him "Tan Tianyan", also known as Zou. son. The era of his activities was after Mencius, and he was a contemporary of Gongsun Long and Lu Zhonglian. He authored the book "Zou Zi" and "Yongle Dadian" listed it in the Taoist department. "Jiangyunlou Bibliography" of the Taoist category "Zouzi" in Zibu does not include the number of volumes.

Real name

Zou Yan

Also known as

Zou Yan, Zou Zi

The era in which he lived

End of the Warring States Period (Qi State)

Nationalities

Huaxia

Birthplace

Zhangqiu City, Jinan City, Shandong Province Haozhuang Village, Xianggongzhuang Town

Life

Zou Yan is a representative figure of Taoism and the founder of Yin-Yang School. He is Han nationality and a native of Qi State at the end of the Warring States Period (according to legend, Hao Zou Yan, Xianggongzhuang Town, Zhangqiu City, Shandong Province today) Zhuangcun people). The year of birth and death is unknown, but it is inferred that he was born in 324 BC and died in 250 BC, living over 70 years old. According to legend, the cemetery is located in Haozhuang Village, Xianggongzhuang Town, Zhangqiu, Shandong today. He authored the book "Zou Zi" and "Yongle Dadian" listed it in the Taoist department. "Jiangyunlou Bibliography" of the Taoist category "Zouzi" in Zibu does not include the number of volumes.

The main theories advocated are the Five Elements Theory, the Five Virtues Ending Theory and the Great Nine States Theory. He was also a famous scholar in Jixia Academy. Because he "explained everything about heaven", people at the time called him He "Tan Tianyan", also known as Zou Zi. The era of his activities was after Mencius, and he was a contemporary of Gongsun Long and Lu Zhonglian.

During the reign of King Xuan of Qi, Zou Yan studied at Jixia Academy. Sima Qianbi had a deeper understanding of this. He said: "Zou Yan saw that those who have a country are more promiscuous and extravagant and cannot be virtuous... He made strange and roundabout changes after deeply observing the news of Yin and Yang. There are more than 100,000 words in "The End and the Beginning" and "The Great Sage"... But to return it, it must stop at being benevolent, righteous, and frugal. After seeing his skill, he was afraid of it and continued to practice it...Although Zou Yan's words were unruly, did they also have the meaning of Niu Ding? It was not Zou Yan's fault that feudal superstition flourished due to his imitation of his minor skills.

“Zou Yan showed himself to the princes by using yin and yang as the master of movement, but the alchemists from Yanqi and Haihai claimed that his technique was incomprehensible. However, strange, sycophantic and sycophantic people have sprung up since then, and they are countless.” ("Historical Records") "Book of Fengchan") King Xuan of Qi was an ambitious monarch. He was not only determined to dominate the princes like Duke Huan of Qi, but also to "king the world", that is, to unify China. Mencius saw this very clearly and said that he had a "great desire" to "open up land, go to Qin and Chu, come to China and appease the barbarians" ("Mencius King Hui of Liang"). After King Min of Qi came to the throne, the country became strong and powerful. "At that time, King Min of Qi was strong and defeated Chu Xiang Tang Mei in Chongqiu in the south, and destroyed the three Jins in Guanjin. Then he attacked Qin with the three Jins, helped Zhao destroy Zhongshan, defeated the Song Dynasty, and spread the country thousands of miles away." ("Historical Records") ·Le Yi Biography") In this case, King Qi Min's ambition was even greater. He not only wanted to be king, but also emperor. "In the thirty-sixth year, King Zhao of Qin became the Emperor of the East, and King Zhao of Qin became the Emperor of the West." ("Historical Records: Tian Jingzhong Wanshi Family") Zou Yan's set of theories is exactly the political plan designed for the new rule, so he himself and his Both theories were highly valued by King Xuan of Qi and King Min of Qi, "Zou Zi was more important than Qi" ("Historical Records: Biography of Meng Xun"). He was given the title of senior doctor. "King Xuan liked literary lobbyists, such as Zou Yan, Chunyu Kun, Tian Pian, Jie Zi, Shen Dao, and Huanyuan's seventy-six disciples. They were all given the rank of senior officials, who could discuss without treatment." ("Historical Records· Tian Jingzhong finished the family")

The imperial movement of King Qi Min later failed. Due to the situation at the time, he had to accept Su Dai's suggestion to remove the imperial title and regain the title of king. However, his ambitions However, it continued unabated and developed to the point where he wanted to "be the emperor" and became more and more arrogant and violent. "Lun on Salt and Iron: On Confucianism" says: "As for the remnants of Min King Fen II,... Jin's achievements are endless, the people are unbearable, the Confucian scholars do not obey the advice, they are scattered, they are cautious, and their sons die, and the fields are as parallel as Xue's. , but Sun Qing was a good minister in Chu, so the princes conspired to attack him. ""Historical Records: Biography of Mengchangjun" also said: "King Min of Qi destroyed the Song Dynasty, and he wanted to remove Mengchangjun, but he was afraid of it.

King Zhao of Wei became the prime minister, and joined forces with Qin and Zhao in the west. He attacked Qi with Yan and defeated King Min of Qi. King Min of Qi died in Ju, whereupon he died. "At this time, King Zhao of Yan recruited talented people, built a palace for Guo Wei, and treated him with courtesy, as an example of respecting the virtuous. For a time, talented people from all over the world rushed to Yan. In this context, Zou Yan left Qi Entering Yan, "Shuoyuan·Jundao" contains: "The King of Yan said: 'I am willing to learn but I have no teacher. ’ Guo Wei said: ‘Wang Cheng wants to establish the Tao, and Kui please open the way for the people of the world. ’ So the King of Yan often placed Guo Wei on his throne and sat facing the south. After three years of residence, Su Zi heard of it and returned to Yan from Zhou; Zou Yan heard of it and returned to Yan from Qi; Leyi heard of it and returned to Yan from Zhao; Qu Jing heard of it and returned to Yan from Chu. The fourth son Bi arrived, and as a result, Yan was weak and Qi was strong. . "According to records, when Zou Yan arrived in Yan State, King Zhao of Yan personally swept the floor for him with a broom in his hand, fearing that the dust would fall on him. Liu Xin recorded this incident and said: "The Biography of Fang Shi said: Zou Zi was in Yan, and he traveled among the princes. If you are afraid of it, all the suburbs will welcome it." ("Selected Works", Volume 40, Ruan Ji's "Zouji", Volume 45, Yang Xiong's "She Lun", Li Shan annotated and quoted "Qilue"). Wang Chong wrote in "Lunheng·Bie" It is also said in "Tong": "Yan Zhao supported Hao Yan and supported Hui. " Then he worshiped Zou Yan as his teacher. Ban Gu said in his notes in "Hanshu·Yiwenzhi" that Zou Yan was "the teacher of King Zhao of Yan". "Historical Records·Biography of Meng Xun" records more details: "(Zou Yan) is like Yan, King Zhao The pioneers of Yonghui, please take the place of disciples and receive the inheritance, build a Jieshi palace, and go to learn from them in person. "

Zou Yan was mainly engaged in the development of production in Yan. "Art and Literature Collection·Shui Buxia·Gu" contains: "Liu Xiang's "Bie Lu" said, "The Biography of Fang Shi" says: Zou It grows in Yan, and Yan has valleys. The land is beautiful but cold, and there are no five hubs. Zouzi lived there, and when he played the music, the warm air came, and he grew up. Now it is called Millet Valley. "Wang Chong also said in "Lunheng Cold and Warm Chapter": "Yan has a cold valley, and the five kinds of things cannot grow. Zou Yan blows the rhythm, and the cold valley can be planted. The Yan people grew millet among them. It's called Millet Valley. "In 284 BC, King Yan Zhao, with Le Yi as his general, joined forces with Qin, Chu, Han, Zhao, and Wei to attack Qi. Qi was Zou Yan's hometown. Although he hated the ruler who forced him to leave his hometown, he never refused. Yu Di loves the land where he was born and raised. It is very possible that he has not and cannot participate in this war.