Zheng Xuan

Zheng Xuan (127– c.July 200), courtesy name Kangcheng (Chinese: 康成), was a Chinese philosopher, politician, and writer who lived towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty. He was born in Gaomi, Beihai Commandery (modern Weifang, Shandong), and was a student of Ma Rong, together with Lu Zhi. Like his teacher, he was a member of the Old Text School, that challenged the state orthodox New Text School. His contemporary rival was He Xiu (Chinese: 何休, 129–182). Zheng is notable for his syncretic attempt to bridge the two centuries of rivalry between the two schools. He adopted the strengths of each school in interpreting the Confucian classics, although he usually favoured the Old Text teachings. He was very influential, but the government never officially adopted his teachings. The Han dynasty was already in decline during his lifetime and collapsed a decade after his death. Neither school survived the chaos, but Zheng's conception of Confucianism would be the mainstream interpretation for centuries. In 200, during the Battle of Guandu, the warlord Yuan Shao ordered Zheng to Yuan's stronghold (in modern-day Daming County, Hebei Province), where he died of illness in around July of that year. The commemorative shrine of Zheng Xuan in Shandong was rebuilt under the supervision of Ruan Yuan (阮元; 1764–1849) in 1793.