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person179-122 BCE

Liu An

Disciplines:
political philosophy
cosmology
daoism

Summary

Han dynasty prince of Huainan who assembled a court of scholars to compile the Huainanzi — an eclectic synthesis of Daoist, Confucian, and Legalist thought organized around Daoist cosmological principles.

Core Contribution

Sponsored the compilation of the Huainanzi, which represents the most comprehensive Daoist synthesis of early Han thought; was executed by Emperor Wu for rebellion before fully realizing his political ambitions.

Notable Works & Achievements

Huainanzi

Historical Influences

Daoism Huang-Lao Thought

Intellectual Lineage

Han Huang-Lao Taoism

Contemporaries & Peers

Dong Zhongshu Sima Tan

Minds Influenced

Han Dynasty Thought

Intellectual Posterity

Huainanzi

Discussing

Liu An

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