Yan Zun, whose courtesy name was Junping, was a native of Shu. He lived in seclusion and refused to take office, often making a living by practicing divination in the marketplace of Chengdu. He would earn exactly a hundred coins a day to support himself. After finishing his divinations, he would close his shop, lower the bamboo blind, and dedicate himself to writing. Yang Xiong, in his youth, associated with him and frequently praised his virtue.
When Li Qiang served as the Governor of Yizhou, he happily remarked, “If I could get Junping to serve as my assistant, I would be fully satisfied!” Yang Xiong replied, “You may prepare the proper etiquette to meet him, but this man cannot be compelled to yield.” The Grand Marshal Wang Feng once requested to befriend him, but Yan refused.
A wealthy man in Shu named Luo Chong asked Junping, “Why do you not take office?” Junping replied, “I have nothing to promote myself with.” Moved by this, Luo Chong prepared a carriage, horses, clothing, and provisions for him. Junping said, “I am merely ‘ill’ (unwilling to conform to worldly ways); it is not that I lack necessities. In truth, I have more than enough, while you are the one in deficit. Why would you use your deficit to serve my surplus?” Luo Chong retorted, “I possess ten thousand gold, while you do not even have a single dan (or shi) of grain. Yet you claim to have a surplus – is that not absurd?”
Junping replied, “Not at all. I once stayed at your home as a guest. Even when the night was deep and the people were asleep, your servants were still toiling. You were anxious and bustling day and night, never feeling content. Today, I make my living by divination; without leaving my bed, money comes to me. I still have hundreds of coins left over, covered in an inch of dust, and I do not know what to use them for. Is this not a clear case of my having a surplus and you having a deficit?” Luo Chong was left deeply ashamed.
Sighing, Junping remarked, “To increase my wealth is to diminish my spirit; to elevate my name is to destroy my life. That is why I do not take office.” The people of his time were deeply convinced by his wisdom.
Note
Daoist hermit Yan Zun earned a living by divination in Chengdu and declined official offers. He argued true wealth lies in inner peace rather than material gains, rejecting a rich man’s aid and claiming fortune and fame harm one’s spirit.
Yan Zun / Yan Junping (严遵 / 严君平):
A legendary Daoist scholar and diviner of the Western Han dynasty. He is famous for redefining the concept of “wealth.” Instead of material riches, he viewed spiritual tranquility and freedom from anxiety as the ultimate surplus. His story is a masterclass in Daoist contentment.
Yang Xiong:
One of the most prominent philosophers, poets, and linguists of the Western Han dynasty. His mentorship under Yan Zun and his defense of Yan’s unyielding character highlight the immense intellectual respect Daoist hermits commanded among orthodox scholars.
Divination as a Reclusive Profession:
In ancient China, practicing divination was considered a highly respectable way for a scholar to make a living without compromising his principles. It allowed him to interact with society on his own terms while maintaining complete financial and spiritual independence.
Surplus and Deficit:
This philosophical debate is the core of the anecdote. Luo Chong represents the conventional, materialistic view of wealth (having ten thousand gold). Yan Zun represents the Daoist view: true wealth is having enough to survive while possessing the absolute freedom of time and peace of mind. The “dusty coins” perfectly symbolize this detachment from materialism.
Wealth Diminishes Spirit, Fame Kills Life:
This is a profound Daoist maxim. It warns that the pursuit of external validation (wealth and reputation) inherently drains a person’s vital energy and compromises their authentic self. It serves as the ultimate justification for the noble recluse’s refusal of office.
严遵，字君平，蜀人也。隐居不仕，常卖卜於成都市，曰得百钱以自给。卜讫，则闭肆下帘，以著书为事。杨雄少从之游，屡称其德。李强为益州牧，喜曰：“吾得君平为从事足矣！”雄曰：“君可备礼与相见，其人不可屈也。”王凤请交，不许。蜀有富人罗冲者，问君平曰：“君何以不仕。”君平曰：“无以自发。”冲为君平具车马衣粮，君平曰：“吾病耳，非不足也。我有余而子不足，奈何以不足奉有余。”冲曰：“吾有万金，子无儋石，乃云有余，不亦谬乎！”君平曰：“不然。吾前宿予家，人定而役未息，昼夜汲汲，未尝有足。今我以卜为业，不下床而钱自至，犹余数百，尘埃厚寸，不知所用。此非我有余而子不足邪？”冲大惭。君平叹曰：“益我货者损我神，生我名者杀我身，故不仕也。”时人服之。
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