HO YEN

died AD 249, , Lo-yang, China Pinyin He Yan Chinese scholar who co-founded the philosophical movement ch'ing-t'an (pure conversation), in which groups of scholars used Taoist terms and concepts to give new meanings to Confucian texts. They also utilized Confucian moral and social philosophy to politicize Taoist thought. A child prodigy, Ho was taken at the age of seven into the house of a great general, Ts'ao Ts'ao, whose son, Ts'ao P'ei, founded the Wei dynasty (220264) after his father's death and banished Ho from the palace. After Ts'ao P'ei's death, however, Ho returned to the court and became a high official. Ho is best known for his scholarly works, especially his discussion of wu, or non-being. Ho considered wu to be beyond name and form, hence absolute and complete and capable of accomplishing anything. According to Ho, the true sage does not become a hermit in the typical Taoist tradition; but by careful practice of wu-wei, the avoidance of overbearing aggressive action, a man becomes capable of social and political achievements.