Teng Anshang: because publicly available information is limited, his life cannot be described in detail, and his name is known mainly from catalogues of Chinese classical texts and literature related to Eastern philosophy. The library currently holds one work by him, the Dong'an Collection (Dong'an ji). Judging from its title and its usual classification, the book belongs to Eastern philosophy and probably consists of writings on traditional thought, self-cultivation and learning, or recorded sayings and notes, showing the typical character of works by ancient scholars. Since his dates, native place, teachers and official career cannot be confirmed, present knowledge of him and his book rests chiefly on the transmission of the Dong'an Collection itself. The work is both the main source for examining Teng Anshang's intellectual concerns and a concrete example for the study of the editing and reception of similar ancient texts. Readers may consult the original and note its style and manner of argument, while avoiding excessive speculation about biographical details on the basis of limited records.
