Selections of Literature

Xiao Tong / 李善Qunyan Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

5.0

Word count: 1.3M words
Chapters: 62

Summary

Also known as the Zhaoming Wenxuan, the Wenxuan is the earliest extant comprehensive anthology of Han poetry and prose, compiled by a group of scholars under Xiao Tong, eldest son of Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty. Xiao Tong received the posthumous title Zhaoming, hence the anthology's alternate name. Originally in 30 juan, it circulates today in 60 juan and encompasses fu, shi, sao, qi, zhao, ce, ling, jiao, wen, biao, shangshu, qi, tanshi, jian, zouji, shu, xi, duiwen, shelun, ci, xu, song, zan, fumings, shilun, shishuzan, lun, lianzhu, zhen, ming, lei, ai, beiwen, muzhi, xingzhuang, diaowen, and jiweng, among other categories. The authors selected range from the pre-Qin period to the early Liang (living writers were excluded by the principle of not including the still living), and selection followed the principle that "matters arise from deep thought, and meaning resides in fine language"; classics, histories, and philosophical works were not included.

Editor's review

The Wenxuan is the earliest extant comprehensive anthology of Chinese poetry and prose, compiled under the direction of Xiao Tong, Crown Prince Zhaoming of the Liang dynasty, with a commentary by Li Shan. It has long been regarded as essential reading for the study of pre-Tang literature. Its selections range from the pre-Qin period to the early Liang and are arranged in more than thirty categories, including fu, shi, sao, zhao, biao, shu, xu, and lun. The format is rigorous and the classification detailed, preserving a wealth of famous pieces while reflecting contemporary judgments about literary genres and values. Xiao Tong's principle of selection—"matters arise from deep thought, and meaning resides in fine language"—excluded classics, histories, and philosophical works, emphasizing literary quality; this choice is itself an important source for the history of literary ideas. Li Shan's commentary cites a wide range of older works and examines names, objects, and allusions, and has always been valued by commentators; it greatly assists understanding of the text. The book serves as a systematic reader for classical literature: it can be read straight through to trace the development of genres, or sampled by category with close attention to the commentary. Readers should note the limitations imposed by its selection criteria and use reference works to resolve obscure characters and institutional terminology.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of ancient literature in Chinese departments who need a systematic understanding of pre-Tang poetic and prose genres and the anthology tradition
Enthusiasts of classical poetry and prose who wish to read famous works grouped by genre
Secondary-school Chinese teachers who need to check sources and allusions for lesson preparation
Scholars of ancient literary theory interested in Xiao Tong's selection criteria and literary ideas

Not a good fit for

General readers seeking only vernacular stories or light reading
Beginners in classical Chinese who cannot yet use commentary to understand literary Chinese
Specialist researchers who wish to read a single author's complete works in one sitting

Reading tips

Begin with the preface and table of contents to understand the logic of the thirty-plus categories, then start with a genre of interest.
Read three to five pieces at a time, looking first at the text and then at Li Shan's commentary, consulting reference works for allusions as they arise.
Read through in the order fu—shi—shu—xu—lun to appreciate the evolution of pre-Tang prose genres.
Keep a notebook of famous lines and textual points from the commentary for later review and reference.

About the publisher

Qunyan Publishing House China · Founded in 1989

Founded in 1989, Qunyan Publishing House has long been committed to publishing academic and educational books for mid- and high-level readers, and has built up a certain presence in Eastern philosophy, classical literature, and classic works. Representative titles available in the database include Records of the Grand Historian, Dream of the Red Chamber, Selections of Refined Literature, Complete Song Ci, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Record of Daily Knowledge, Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang, and The Collected Works of Wang Yangming, covering common categories such as ancient poetry, medicine, and examinations. Its author resources include Sima Qian, Cao Xueqin, Xiao Tong, Li Shan, Pu Songling, and Gu Yanwu. The press also offers distinctive series such as the Biographical Series of the China Democratic League and the Historical Documents Series of the China Democratic League, and publishes research on historical documents, biographies, memoirs, and textbooks and academic works by League members. Public information is limited, and its overall publishing scale and complete catalogue require further verification.

版权信息
序
卷二
卷三
卷四
卷五
卷六
卷七
卷八
卷九
卷十
卷十一
卷十二
卷十三
卷十四
卷十五
卷十六
卷十七
卷十八
卷十九
卷二十
卷二十一
卷二十二
卷二十三
卷二十四
卷二十五
卷二十六
卷二十七
卷二十八
卷二十九
卷三十
卷三十
卷三十一
卷三十二
卷三十三
卷三十四
卷三十五
卷三十六
卷三十七
卷三十八
卷三十九
卷四十
卷四十一
卷四十二
卷四十三
卷四十四
卷四十五
卷四十六
卷四十七
卷四十八
卷四十九
卷五十
卷五十一
卷五十二
卷五十三
卷五十四
卷五十五
卷五十六
卷五十七
卷五十八
卷五十九
卷六十

FAQ

Why does the Wenxuan not include classics, histories, or philosophical works?

Xiao Tong selected on the principle that "matters arise from deep thought, and meaning resides in fine language," aiming to highlight literary quality; he therefore excluded classics, histories, and philosophical works and included only pieces meeting his literary standard. This choice reflects his definition of "literature" and remains an important basis for studying Six Dynasties literary ideas.

How does Li Shan's commentary help readers of the Wenxuan?

Li Shan's commentary cites a wide range of older works, focusing on explaining names, objects, allusions, and the sources of words; its scholarship is relatively rigorous and it is an important aid to understanding the text. When readers encounter obscure allusions or institutional terms, they can consult the commentary first and then check reference works, which greatly reduces difficulties.

Which category should general readers start with?

Start with shi and fu, which are relatively complete in form and rich in famous pieces and offer a sense of accomplishment; shorter pieces from shu, xu, and lun are also good choices. Once familiar with literary Chinese, readers can move on to more formulaic genres such as zhao, biao, and beiwen.

What reference tools are needed for reading the Wenxuan?

A dictionary of common characters in classical Chinese and a dictionary of allusions are recommended, so that obscure words, names, and places can be checked promptly. If possible, consult other anthologies or literary histories for background on the selections, but reading all sixty juan straight through is not necessary.

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About the author

Xiao Tong Author · Chinese

Xiao Tong (501–531), courtesy name Deshi and childhood name Weimo, was a native of Nanlanling (present-day Changzhou, Jiangsu) and the eldest son of Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan. He was installed as crown prince in the first year of the Tianjian era and was posthumously titled Zhaoming, so he is commonly known as Crown Prince Zhaoming. He gathered many men of letters and presided over the compilation of the Wen Xuan (also known as Zhaoming Wenxuan), the earliest extant anthology of poetry and prose in China. The work selects notable pieces from the pre-Qin period to the Liang dynasty and arranges them by genre, and has long been regarded as a model for the study of classical literature. Xiao Tong was also a writer himself and authored works including the Jindai Shu. His works are generally classed under classics, ancient poetry, and Eastern philosophy, and have exerted a lasting influence.

李善 Author

Li Shan: his official career, dates of birth and death, and native place are all undocumented, and publicly available information is limited. Two works are extant under his name, the representative works Wen Xuan and Wen Xuan Zhu, commonly classified as classics and foreign literature. The Wen Xuan Zhu is especially valued: Li Shan annotated the Wen Xuan, citing sources profusely and carefully examining wording while explaining allusions and the names and institutions of things, with a rigorous attitude. The annotations themselves possess independent documentary value and are an important aid for studying the Wen Xuan and pre-Tang literature. His annotative style tends toward evidential scholarship, marked by broad learning and meticulousness rather than empty discussion, and has had a profound influence on later Wen Xuan studies. Because biographical material is scarce, his family background, circle of associates, and official career remain largely unknown; readers seeking to understand him should still infer his scholarly orientation from his annotative methods and handling of texts.