Han Shi Wai Chuan Ji Shi

Author: Han Ying and Xu Weiyu (Chinese)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: The Han Shi Wai Zhuang we see today has beened and is no longer the original book. Not only is the number of volumes different (the Han Shi lists six volumes, while modern and Sui-Tang Shi both list ten volumes), but parts of its content may have been modified by later scholars. According to the description in the Confucian Scholars' Chronicle, the Han Shi Wai Zhuang should be a book that explains the meaning of classics, but in reality, it is not. From the scattered fragments of lost texts found in ancient Chinese literature before the Song Dynasty, it appears that the Confucian Scholars' Chronicle's description largely aligns with the now-lost Nei Zhuang, while the existing Wai Zhuang follows a similar format to Liu Xiang's Xin Xu, Shu Yuan, and Lie Nü Zhuang—beginning with a story and then citing poetry to support it. This was a common practice for ancient scholars when citing poetry, originating with the Analects, followed by Mozi and Mencius, with Xunzi citing poetry the most. Xunzi often used poetry to conclude his arguments after a passage of discussion. The Siku Tiyao states: [Wang Shizhen claimed that the Wai Zhuang cites poetry to prove events, not events to explain poetry, and this view is correct.] Therefore, the Siku scholars believed that the Wai Zhuang no longer concerns the meaning of poetry and was merely attached to the end of the Shi Jing category in the classics. This is correct. However, it records some ancient stories and legends, and can also be used to collate ancient philosophical texts, so it still holds certain value.