Wenxuan zhu () is a Tang dynasty commentary on the Wenxuan (, Selections of Refined Literature). The commentary is authored by the scholar Li Shan (æÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ, 630âÂÂ689). It is the oldest surviving and most influential commentary on this classical Chinese anthology. The Wenxuan itself is the earliest extant Chinese anthology arranged by genre.
Li Shan was a Tang dynasty scholar and commentator, renowned for his comprehensive annotations on the Wenxuan, the literary anthology originally compiled by Xiao Tong è§绠of the Liang dynasty (Southern dynasties). The commentary to the Wenxuan draws on nearly 1,700 classical works and focuses on etymology, literary allusions, and textual criticism. The commentary significantly facilitated the use of classical references in Tang poetry and literature.
The Wenxuan zhu is generally considered a critical commentary rather than a purely explanatory one. Li Shan incorporated and quoted numerous earlier commentaries on the works included in the Wenxuan, submitting his text to the imperial court in 658. His annotations are known for their rigor and detailed scholarship, providing both semantic explanations and textual emendations. Together with the commentaries Shuijing zhu, Sanguozhi zhu, and Shishuo xinyu zhu, Li ShanâÂÂs work is regarded as one of the âÂÂFour Great Classical Commentariesâ of China.
Another notable commentary (collection) is the Wuchen zhu Wenxuan (äºÂè£注æÂÂé¸, âÂÂComments of the Five Ministers on the WenxuanâÂÂ) from 718, a composite edition incorporating annotations by five Tang scholars: Lü Yanji (Ã¥ÂÂ延æ¿Â), Liu Liang (Ã¥ÂÂè¯), Zhang Xian (å¼µéÂÂ), Lü Xiang (Ã¥ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ), and Li Zhouhan (æÂÂå¨翰). During the Song dynasty, Li Shan's commentary and the five other less prominent Tang-era commentaries were compiled together as the Liuchen zhu Wenxuan (å Âè£注æÂÂé¸, âÂÂComments of the Six Masters on the WenxuanâÂÂ).
The Hanyu da zidian (HYDZD) f.e. uses besides the Hu Kejia Qing dynasty edition (1809; edition Zhonghua shuju 1977) also the Sibu congkan photographic reproduction of a Song dynasty print Liuchen zhu Wenxuan å Âè£注æÂÂé as its editions.
Li Shan's Wenxuan zhu has had a profound impact on Tang dynasty literature and subsequent Chinese literary scholarship. Its meticulous documentation of sources and allusions continues to serve as an important reference for scholars of classical Chinese literature.
The work is important for a better understanding of parts of the transmission history of early Chinese literature, as f.e. of the book Zhuangzi.
A widely used edition today is the 1986 critical edition published by Shanghai guji chubanshe.
Sun Zhizu (1737-1801) wrote a Wenxuan Lizhu buzheng æÂÂéÂÂæÂÂ注补æ£ in the time of the Qing dynasty to supplement and correct the work.