Zhufu Yan

Zhufu Yan (主父偃, died 126 or 127 BCE) was one of the high-ranking court official and advisor to Emperor Wu of Han. He proposed the Tui'en Ling (推恩令 ‘Order to Expand Favours’), a decree that was meant to weaken the power of feudal lords. The policy encouraged them to divide their territories among all their sons and not just the eldest. The resulting fragmentations of the estates reduced their influence, making them less of a threat.

Born into a poor family in Shandong, Zhufu began his studies with the School of Diplomacy and did not study Taoist and Confucian texts until later.

Zhufu had accepted many bribes and was notorious for revealing the secrets of many court officials.

He once manipulated Zhu Maichen into accepting a proposal made by Gongsun Hong, but Gongsun later convinced the Emperor to execute Yan for bribery.