Shi Xuzhong's courtesy name, place of origin, and dates of birth and death are all unknown. Public information is limited, so this introduction can only be based on the works held in the collection. Two works are extant under this name, both titled Liulei Shoujian (A Handy Mirror of Categories), and both fall within the field of Eastern philosophy; their exact circumstances of composition and textual history require further study. Judging from the titles and their classification, the works appear to proceed by distinguishing categories and appraising schools and currents, and thus have the character of traditional scholarly notes and a guide to appreciation. The writing presumably aims at clear organization, helping readers to look things up by category and to understand them accordingly. Given the limited material, the intellectual sources and later influence of the author cannot be described in detail; readers may treat the works as a reference for understanding classical Eastern philosophical classification and modes of criticism.
