焦循

Jiao Xun was a Chinese scholar of the Qing dynasty who lived for a long time in the Yangzhou region. His scholarship covered classical studies, philology and drama. Among his surviving works are note-style studies of the Book of Songs such as Shijing Xiaoxue and Maoshi Bushu, which examine the text, glosses and meaning of the classic, as well as specialized writings on song lyrics and drama, including Diaogulou Cihua, Huabu Nongtan and Jushuo. Judging from the five works in this collection, he read the classics closely in the philological manner, paying attention to the sound and meaning of words and to the verification of names, things and institutions; at the same time he turned his attention to the popular "huabu" drama of his day, recording plays and commenting on performance with an open and undogmatic attitude. His writing is generally plain and concise, valuing evidence and concrete material over empty discussion. Because public information is limited, his biographical details and official career are not elaborated here; interested readers may begin with his classical notes and drama jottings to appreciate how a Qing scholar moved between classical studies and popular literature.