Chen Shi is an author whose biographical details are rather limited in ancient Chinese sources. The only extant work that can be confirmed is Yiweng Ji (Records of Strange Tales), which is commonly classified under literary appreciation in library catalogs. His courtesy name, native place, dates of birth and death, and official career are not well documented in publicly available materials, so any introduction to him must center on his work. Judging from its title, Yiweng Ji belongs to the tradition of biji, or miscellaneous notes, that record unusual tales and anecdotes. Such writing tends to combine the collecting of marvels with casual jottings; the entries are short and the narration plain. It allows readers to glimpse the character of ancient legends and has often been included in later anthologies and appreciation-oriented readers as material for reading and commentary. Chen Shi's name thus survives chiefly through Yiweng Ji. His style is concise and record-like, and his influence lies mainly in the reception of note-style literature and literary appreciation. Further study of the author requires consultation of relevant bibliographies and editions.
