Daoist immortal An Qisheng sold herbs by the sea and never took office. He rejected Emperor Qin’s lavish treasures, leaving red jade shoes and an invitation to meet at Penglai. Later he also turned down noble rank offered by Xiang Yu.
Chen Zhongzi shunned his brother’s ill-gotten salary and endured extreme poverty. When Chu’s king offered him premiership, his wife warned of political perils. The couple declined the post and fled to earn a living watering gardens.
Virtuous Daoist hermit Qianlou declined high official posts and generous grain/gold from rulers of Lu and Qi. He wrote the Daoist work Qianlouzi, upheld lifelong seclusion untouched by power and wealth, and peacefully died of old age.
Duke Mu of Lu wanted Gongyi Qian as prime minister via Zisi. Zisi declined to lure the scholar with titles, saying sincere respect instead of material bait was required. Gongyi Qian upheld his integrity and refused officialdom all his life.
Scholar Duan Ganmu clung to Dao and shunned official posts, even climbing over walls to evade Marquis Wen of Wei. The marquis showed great reverence for his virtue, saluting his cottage and offering the premiership, which Duan Ganmu firmly rejected.
Zhuang Zhou, a core Daoist thinker, rejects lavish official offers twice. Using tortoise and sacrificial ox metaphors, he chooses humble, free rural life over dangerous noble power, maintaining lifelong seclusion to preserve his spiritual autonomy.