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Xu Gan (Chinese: 徐幹, pinyin Xú Gàn, 171 – March or April 218?(文义未究，年四十八，建安二十三年春二月遭厉疾，大命陨颓，...) Quan Sanguo Wen, vol.55 (section: "Zhonglun Xu" (preface to the Zhonglun)). The month corresponds to 15 Mar to 12 Apr 218 in the Julian calendar. However, volume 21 of Sanguozhi indicate that Xu Gan died in 217 (22nd year of the Jian'an era), along with Chen Lin, Ying Yang (nephew of Ying Shao) and Liu Zhen (徐幹、陈琳、应玚、刘桢建安二十二年卒。).), courtesy name Weichang (偉長), was a Chinese philosopher, poet and official of the late Eastern Han dynasty, and one of the "Seven Scholars of Jian'an". He is best known in the West for his discourse on the relationship between the names and actualities, preserved in his treatise Zhonglun (中論), or "Balanced Discourses".
Although living in tumultuous times, and seeking at causes of decline, his work's introduction, written from the viewpoint of a reverent disciple, suggests his exile more self-imposed for the sake of Confucianist study than any outcast status, even if some his politics might have been at variance. He seems to have been familiar with the "Legalists", but is not that unusual for his time and advocated that reward and punishment should be consistent rather than extreme, fitting alongside his other "Balanced Discourses."
It has been suggested that his writing were directed at Cao Cao. After participating in Cao Cao's campaigns, the Records of the Three Kingdoms state that he was appointed magistrate of Shanghai, but did not serve. He did serve as Minister of Works, from 197-208, and literary advisor until 211.John Makeham 1994. p3. Name and Actuality
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