Ho Yen (d.A.D. 249), Chinese philosopher, an early leader of the Neo-Taoist movement. Ho Yen brought into currency the idea of ‘non-being’ (wu) in explaining the tao and the origin of being. Without limit and inexhaustible, the tao constitutes the totality of all there is. Formless and nameless, it is a creative vital energy (ch’i) that through a process of differentiation produces heaven and earth and the myriad creatures. Ho Yen is also famous for his view that the sage does not have emotions (ch’ing). This is because the sage is exceptionally endowed with pure ch’ienergy, which precludes emotional disturbance. Ethically, this further translates into a critique of hypocrisy and the abuse of power that Ho Yen considered the bane of Chinese society. See also CH ‘ ING , NEO – TAOIS. A.K.L.C.