Shan Tao (; 205 – 3 March 283([太康]四年春正月....戊午，司徒山涛薨。) Jin Shu, vol.03; vol.81 of Zizhi Tongjian also recorded the same date of death. (...太康四年薨，时年七十九，...) Jin Shu, vol.43), courtesy name Juyuan, posthumously known as Count Kang of Xinta (新沓康伯),Zizhi Tongjian, vol.81 was one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, a group of Chinese Taoist scholars, writers and musicians who lived in the 3rd century. Shan also was an official of Cao Wei and Western Jin.
Background Shan Tao's father Shan Yao was a minor official.(父曜，宛句令。) Jin Shu, vol.43. Zhang Chunhua's mother was a grandaunt of Shan Tao's.(宣穆張皇后諱春華，河內平臯人也。....；母河內山氏，司徒濤之從祖姑也。) Jin Shu, vol.31
Life under Cao Wei In 244, Shan Tao joined the Wei bureaucracy, when he was 40 (by East Asian age reckoning). After several minor positions, he was nominated as a xiaolian.(涛年四十，始为郡主簿、功曹、上计掾。举孝廉，州辟部河南从事。) Jin Shu, vol.43
During one night in 247, Shan Tao was with Shi Jian (石鉴). While they were resting, Shan suddenly kicked Shi and exclaimed, "Why are you sleeping so soundly at a time like this? Don't you know what the Grand Tutor is up to?" Shi replied, "The Prime Minister has great power and has the law with him. What are you worried about?" Shan then retorted "Ah! Master Shi should not be traveling around!" Less than two years later, the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs occurred, and Shan Tao became a hermit again.(与石鉴共宿，涛夜起蹴鉴曰：“今为何等时而眠邪！知太傅卧何意？”鉴曰：“宰相三不朝，与尺一令归第，卿何虑也！”涛曰：“咄！石生无事马蹄间邪！”投传而去。未二年，果有曹爽之事，遂隐身不交世务。) Jin Shu, vol.43
After the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs, the Sima clan under Sima Yi began to tighten its control over Cao Wei. After Sima Yi's death in September 251, his eldest son Sima Shi took over as regent of Cao Wei. It was during Sima Shi's tenure as regent that one day, Shan Tao went to visit Shi as a relative. Sima Shi said to him, "Does Lü Wang want a government position?" Shi then ordered that Shan be nominated as a xiucai and given the minor position of langzhong. Later, Shan went to serve under Wang Chang.(与宣穆后有中表亲，是以见景帝。帝曰：“吕望欲仕邪？” 命司隶举秀才，除郎中。转骠骑将军王昶从事中郎。) Jin Shu, vol.43
As some point between 262 and 264, Shan Tao's friend Ji Kang was to be executed under orders from Sima Zhao, who was then regent after Shi's death in March 255. Before the execution, Ji Kang said to his son Ji Shao, "With Juyuan around, you will not be an orphan."(康后坐事，临诛，谓子绍曰：“巨源在，汝不孤矣。”) Jin Shu, vol.43
Shan Tao became friends with He You (和逌; son of He Qia) late in his life; he was also good friends with both Zhong Hui and Pei Xiu. Even as Zhong and Pei engaged in court politics, both men remained friends with Shan, even as they knew Shan was friendly with the other party.(晚与尚书和逌交，又与钟会、裴秀并申款昵。以二人居势争权，涛平心处中，各得其所，而俱无恨焉。) Jin Shu, vol.43.
In early 264, as news of Zhong Hui's Rebellion reached Sima Zhao, the latter prepared to lead troops to suppress the revolt. At the time, most members of the imperial Cao clan were residing in Ye. Sima Zhao said to Shan, "I will settle matters in the west; I thus delegate matters at the home front to you." Shan was sent with 500 troops from Sima Zhao's personal guard to garrison Ye.(钟会作乱于蜀，而文帝将西征。时魏氏诸王公并在邺，帝谓涛曰：“西偏吾自了之，后事深以委卿。”以本官行军司马，给亲兵五百人，镇邺。) Jin Shu, vol.43. Vol.78 of Zizhi Tongjian also recorded the incident, albeit in lesser detail (昭自将大军从帝幸长安，以诸王公皆在邺，乃以山涛为行军司马，镇邺。). That year, Sima Zhao considered making his younger son Sima You heir instead of Sima Yan; Shan Tao advised against it.(晋王欲以攸为世子，山涛曰：“废长立少，违礼不祥。”) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.78.
One of Shan Tao's final duties under Cao Wei was to escort Cao Huan (by then reappointed Prince of Chenliu) to Ye in February 266.(及武帝受禅，以涛守大鸿胪，护送陈留王诣邺。) Jin Shu, vol.43.
Life under Jin Dynasty In the early part of the Taishi era (265-274), Shan Tao was made Count of Xinta.(泰始初，....，进爵新遝伯。) Jin Shu, vol.43. Note the different character used for "ta" as compared to the record in Zizhi Tongjian.
In 274,Zizhi Tongjian, vol.80 Shan Tao advised Emperor Wu to exempt Ji Shao from his father's crime and appoint him as an Assistant in the Palace Library. The emperor agreed, but took one step further by giving him the higher rank of Assistant Director. Ji Shao wanted to turn down the appointment, but after a personal visit from Shan Tao, he finally agreed.(山濤領選，啟武帝曰：「《康誥》有言：'父子罪不相及。'嵇紹賢侔郤缺，宜加旌命，請為秘書郎。」帝謂濤曰：「如卿所言，乃堪為丞，何但郎也。」乃發詔征之，起家為秘書丞。) Jin Shu, vol.89
On 28 January 283, Shan Tao was appointed situ.([太康三年]冬十二月甲申，....光禄大夫山涛为司徒...) Jin Shu, vol.03. Vol.81 of Zizhi Tongjian also recorded the same day for the appointment. He died less than two months later, and was given the posthumous name Kang (康).
Notes
References
Fang, Xuanling et al., "Book of Jin (Jin Shu)". Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian.