Orphaned Song Shengzhi was famed for filial piety and virtue. He learned the I Ching in Chang’an, declined his cousin’s and Chancellor Kong Guang’s official offers. He herded sheep with Xun Yue, enjoying qin and books, and died of illness in Taiyuan.
Daoist hermit Anqiu Wangzhi mastered Laozi’s works and rejected Emperor Cheng’s audience request. He humbly worked as a folk healer, wrote a commentary on Dao De Jing and founded the Anqiu School. Many disciples studied under him while he stayed out of officialdom all his life.
Anonymous Han sage Chenggong shunned fame and wealth. Confronted by Emperor Cheng’s threats of rank, fortune and death, he calmly argued his spiritual independence. The emperor yielded and sent officials to learn his twelve chapters on state governance.
Han Fu, a virtuous Western Han recluse, was summoned to court by Emperor Zhao for his noble conduct. Falling ill, he could not have an audience. The emperor granted him silk and sent him home to guide villagers. He stayed out of officialdom until his death.
Virtuous hermit Zhi Jun dwelled on Mount Qian and declined his friend Sima Qian’s letter urging him to serve. He foresaw political misfortune. Later Sima suffered castration for defending Li Ling, while Zhi preserved his integrity and died in seclusion, honored by locals.
Two orthodox Lu Confucians rejected Shusun Tong’s summons to draft Han court rituals. They criticized him for pushing rites amid post-war chaos, arguing proper rituals need a century of virtue. Unwilling to compromise ancient principles, they sent him away to preserve their integrity.
Known as the Four Elders of Mount Shang, four virtuous Daoist scholars fled Qin’s tyranny and hid in mountains. They composed a song praising reclusive freedom over official worries. Even Han Emperor Gaozu’s summons failed to draw them out; they kept their integrity in seclusion.
Master Gai, a Huang-Lao hermit and Yue Chengong’s pupil, rejected official posts. He taught Cao Can governance through tranquility and non-interference. Cao followed his wisdom to govern Qi and later the whole Han Empire well, while Master Gai remained a private recluse till his peaceful old age.
Yue Chengong, a Huang-Lao scholar from Song, shunned officialdom unlike his famed military kinsman Yue Yi. Fleeing Zhao’s fall to Qin, he settled in Qi, won renown for mastering the Dao De Jing, and was revered as a worthy teacher by local elites.