Shan Tao (Taoist)

One of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (205-283)

Shan Gai
Shan Chun
Shan Yun
Shan Mo
Shan Jian

Courtesy nameJuyuan (巨源)

Shan Tao (Chinese: 山濤; pinyin: Shan Tao; 205 – 3 March 283^[1]), courtesy name Juyuan, was one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, a group of Chinese Taoist scholars, writers and musicians who lived in the 3rd century. Shan also was an official of Cao Wei and Western Jin.

Background

Shan Tao's father Shan Yao was a minor official.^[2] Zhang Chunhua's mother was a grandaunt of Shan Tao's.^[3]

Life under Cao Wei

In c.244, Shan Tao joined the Wei bureaucracy, when he was 40 (by East Asian age reckoning). After several minor positions, he was nominated as a xiaolian.^[4]

During one night in c.247, Shan Tao was with Shi Jian (石鉴)^[a]. While they were resting, Shan suddenly kicked Shi and exclaimed, "Why are you sleeping so soundly at a time like this? Don't you know what the Grand Tutor is up to?" Shi replied, "The Prime Minister has great power and has the law with him. What are you worried about?" Shan then retorted "Ah! Master Shi should not be traveling around!"^[b] Less than two years later, the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs occurred, and Shan Tao became a hermit again.^[5]

In c.262, Shan Tao's friend Ji Kang was to be executed. Before the execution, Ji Kang said to his son Ji Shao, "With Juyuan around, you will not be an orphan."^[6]

Notes

^ not the same person as the Later Zhao emperor
^ Qing-era poet Wen Tingshi (文廷式) later adapted this line in a poem (浣溪沙·旅情) and credited Shan Tao in his annotation (“用山巨源语”。).

References

^ ([太康]四年春正月....戊午，司徒山涛薨。) Jin Shu, vol.03. (...太康四年薨，时年七十九，...) Jin Shu, vol.43
^ (父曜，宛句令。) Jin Shu, vol.43.
^ (宣穆張皇后諱春華，河內平臯人也。....；母河內山氏，司徒濤之從祖姑也。) Jin Shu, vol.31
^ (涛年四十，始为郡主簿、功曹、上计掾。举孝廉，州辟部河南从事。) Jin Shu, vol.43
^ (与石鉴共宿，涛夜起蹴鉴曰：“今为何等时而眠邪！知太傅卧何意？”鉴曰：“宰相三不朝，与尺一令归第，卿何虑也！”涛曰：“咄！石生无事马蹄间邪！”投传而去。未二年，果有曹爽之事，遂隐身不交世务。) Jin Shu, vol.43
^ (康后坐事，临诛，谓子绍曰：“巨源在，汝不孤矣。”) Jin Shu, vol.43