Hu Yan (715–629 BC) was a Di tribesman who served as a minister and general of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history.

Hu Yan assisted Prince Chong'er (posthumously the "Wen Duke") during his long exile, his usurpation of his nephew Yu, and his rise to hegemonic status over the other states of the Zhou Kingdom.

The Legalist Han Fei considered Hu Yan one of the best advisors of ancient China, and the historian Sima Qian listed him with Sun Tzu as the greatest tacticians of the age.

When the machinations of the concubine Li Ji led to the ritual suicide of Shensheng in 656 BC, Hu Tu retired from public service and ceased to leave his home.

[5] Hu Yan conspired under a mulberry tree with some of the other Jin exiles, planning to abduct the prince and force him to concern himself with matters of state.

[5] The prince's wife Qi Jiang killed the young silk worker who overheard them and reported to her; although she told her husband of his advisors' plans, she advised him to permit his own abduction, as it was for the best.

During Yu's brief period of rule in 637 BC, he attempted to force Hu Tu to compel his sons to return to Jin and cease supporting the cause of Chong'er.

[18] A passage in the Han Feizi credits Hu Yan with the successful tactics used by the coalition against Chu at Chengpu, but states that Chong'er subsequently rewarded Yong Ji instead because his advice had been to avoid deception and—while that had been less useful during wartime—it became better once peace was secured.

[19] He goes so far as listing Hu Yan as the most capable and important of Duke Chong'er's men and one of the prime "Assistants to Hegemonic Rulers" in ancient China.

Han Fei says such assistants worked hard without concern for their health, rising early and retiring late, thinking cautiously but speaking frankly, holding their lord and state ahead of their own families and careers, and advising well but behaving humbly.

Centuries later, Han Fei still considered the incident between Chong'er and Hu Yan in Qi as a classic example of how rulers sometimes depend on their followers and advisors for their success.

[19] By offending Jie Zhitui into early retirement,[17] Hu Yan may also be considered indirectly responsible for China's Cold Food and Tomb-Sweeping Festivals.