Exiled through the influence of "old-guard officials", he was recalled on a pretext as a consultant on Taoist mysticism, but resistance to institutional reform saw him sent to tutor the Emperor Wen's favored youngest son Liu Yi.

Although often recalled modernly for his Disquisitions, his most famous work may actually be his poem On the Owl, which draws on proverbs and parables from the Tao te ching and Zhuangzi, and his Lament for Qu Yuan, containing political and educational insights.

[5] Emperor Wen made Jia a "professor" (bóshì 博士), and within one year had promoted him to Grand Master of the Palace (tàizhōng dàfū 太中大夫), a relatively high-ranking position at the imperial court.

He advised Wen to teach his heir to use what may very well be Shen Buhai's administrative method, so as to be able to "supervise the functions of the many officials and understand the usages of government."

He was frequently opposed by a group of older officials who had been early supporters of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han dynasty, and who continued to hold important positions under Emperor Wen.

[8][6][9][8] Emperor Wen ended Jia's exile around 172 BCE by summoning him back to the imperial capital at Chang'an, ostensibly in order to consult him on matters of Daoist mysticism.