Wang Yinglin

Wang Yinglin (1223–1296), courtesy name Bohou and art name Shenning Jushi, was a native of Yin County in Qingyuan Prefecture (present-day Ningbo, Zhejiang). A Southern Song scholar, educator, and statesman, he rose to the posts of Minister of Rites and concurrently Supervising Secretary. He followed Zhu Xi's learning and excelled in evidential research, covering the classics, history, philology, and textual scholarship. After the fall of the Song, he lived in retirement for twenty years, devoting himself to writing. His works include Kunxue Jiwen, Yuhai, and Xiaoxue Ganzhu. Kunxue Jiwen, in note form, examines the classics and histories and clarifies terms and institutions, reflecting his empirical and broad-minded approach and influencing later evidential scholarship. The primer Sanzi Jing is traditionally attributed to him; its plain language and clear structure made it widely circulated as an important traditional text for elementary education. This site holds 11 of his works, spanning philosophy, Eastern philosophy, culture, literary appreciation, and classic works.