This is a glossary of Shangshu (Shujing) exegesis (for further details on the early Chinese text, see the main article “Book of Documents”).

The glossary of the Book of Documents exegesis pertains to the transmission and commentary history of the Shangshu (), also called Shujing (), often abbreviated with Shu () as an alternative short title, a historical Chinese text which is known in English under the titles Book of Documents or Book of History or the Classic of History, one of the Five ClassicsWujing (, “Five Classics”), the central corpus of Confucian canon texts, consisting of the Shangshu, Shijing (Book of Songs), Yijing (Book of Changes), Liji (Book of Rites), and Chunqiu (Spring and Autumn Annals). of Confucianism, a compilation of speeches, edicts, and historical records attributed to ancient sage-kings and ministers, traditionally said to have been edited by Confucius. It preserves some of the earliest historiographical and political writings in China. There are two main Shangshu versions: the → Old Script Shangshu (58 chapters) and → Modern Script Shangshu (28 chapters), see also the → Forged Old Script Shangshu. Since the Han dynasty, numerous scholars have produced countless commentaries and annotations on the Shangshu (Shujing).See f.e. Qingshi gao 清史稿, j. 145 (Shu lei 书类)

Glossary Note: The following glossary of Shangshu (Shujing) exegesis (the Chinese word for exegesis is xunguxue: ) is not a glossary of the Shangshu’s contents (that is, not of the individual chapters or topics such as "Canon of Yao"Yao dian (尧典/堯典 Yáo diǎn), one of the earliest chapters of the Shangshu, describing the ideal rule of Emperor Yao. or "Great Plan"Hong fan (洪范/洪範 Hóng fàn), one of the chapters of the Shangshu, presenting a cosmic and ethical order under Heaven (tian), influential in Chinese cosmology and statecraft thought. or last not least “Metal-Bound Coffer”Jin teng (金縢 Jīn téng), one of the chapters of the Shangshu (cf. Tsinghua Bamboo Slips).), but rather of its transmission, editions, and commentary tradition — in other words, of the philological and exegetical tradition surrounding the text. Some book titles are roughly translated. The information provided does not claim to be complete or up-to-date.

C

Cai Shen Cai Shen 蔡沈 Cài Shěn (fl. 13th c.), Southern Song scholar, author of the Shu jizhuan (书集传), an influential commentary synthesizing earlier traditions on the Shangshu.

Chen Mengjia Chen Mengjia 陳夢家 Chén Mèngjiā (1911–1966), Chinese scholar, archaeologist, and philologist. Author of Shangshu tonglun (尚書通論), a seminal modern study of the Shangshu, notable for its combination of textual analysis and early Chinese script research.

Chen Qiaocong Chen Qiaocong 陈乔枞/陳喬樅 Chén Qiáocōng (1809–1869), Qing-dynasty scholar and textual critic. Author of Jinwen Shangshu jingshuo kao (今文尚书经说考), in which he examined the remnants and commentarial traces of the Jinwen Shangshu, contributing to Qing scholarship on the philological and exegetical study of the Shangshu.

Chen Yan Chen Yan 陈衍 Chén Yǎn (1856–1937), late Qing and early Republican scholar, poet, and historian. Author of Shangshu juyao (尚书举要).

D

Dai Junren Dai Junren 戴君仁 Dài Jūnrén (1901–1978), Chinese scholar and historian specializing in the textual criticism of ancient Chinese classics. He compiled Yan Mao Guwen Shangshu gong’an (閻毛古文尚書公案), a seminal study of the Qing-dynasty debate over the authenticity of the Guwen Shangshu.

Duan Yucai Duan Yucai 段玉裁 Duàn Yùcái (1735–1815), Qing-dynasty linguist and philologist, known for Shuowen jiezi zhu 说文解字注 and Guwen Shangshu zhuanyi.

G

Gu Jiegang Gu Jiegang 顧頡剛 Gù Jiégāng (1893–1980), modern Chinese historian and philologist, pioneer of doubting antiquity (yiguxue 疑古学 yígǔxué). He conducted critical studies of early Chinese historical texts, including the Shangshu, questioning traditional attributions and exploring textual formation. His work laid the foundation for modern critical approaches to classical Chinese historiography and philology. He edited the Gushi bian (古史辨; 'Debates on Ancient History').

Guwen Shangshu Guwen Shangshu 古文尚书 Gǔwén Shàngshū (“Old Script Shangshu”), a version of the Shangshu said to have been rediscovered in the wall of Confucius’ house during the Han dynasty. The text transmitted by Mei Ze in the Eastern Jin is now considered a forgery.

Guwen Shangshu Ma-Zheng zhu Guwen Shangshu Ma-Zheng zhu 古文尚书马郑注 Gǔwén Shàngshū Mǎ-Zhèng zhù (Ma and Zheng Commentary on the Old Script Shangshu), 10 juan, by Sun Xingyan.

Guwen Shangshu shiyi Guwen Shangshu shiyi 古文尚书拾遗 Gǔwén Shàngshū shíyí (“Supplementary Studies on the Old Script Shangshu”), work by Zhang Binglin adding philological notes and corrections to earlier research on the Old Script text.

Guwen Shangshu shuzheng Guwen Shangshu shuzheng 古文尚书疏证 Gǔwén Shàngshū shūzhèng (“Critical Evidence on the Old Script Shangshu”), landmark Qing work by Yan Ruoqu exposing many Old Script chapters as later fabrications.

Guwen Shangshu yuanci Guwen Shangshu yuanci 古文尚書冤詞 Gǔwén Shàngshū yuáncí (“In Defence of the Old Text Documents”), written by Mao Qiling 毛奇齡 (1623–1716). In this work, Mao Qiling defended the authenticity of the Guwen Shangshu against the textual criticism of Yan Ruoqu. The text is a key document in the Qing-dynasty scholarly debate over the authenticity of the Old Script Shangshu and forms part of the landmark case (公案 gong’an) in Shangshu textual criticism.

Guwen Shangshu zhuanyi Guwen Shangshu zhuanyi 古文尚书撰异 Gǔwén Shàngshū zhuànyì (“Collected Variants of the Old Script Shangshu”), Qing-dynasty study by Duan Yucai comparing textual divergences among Shangshu versions.

H

Huang Qing jingjie Huang Qing jingjie 皇清经解 Huáng Qīng jīngjiě (“Exegeses of the Classics under the August Qing”), imperial Qing anthology of commentaries on the Confucian classics, containing Guwen Shangshu zhuanyi 古文尚书撰异 of (Qing) Duan Yucai 段玉裁.

Huang Qing jingjie xubian Huang Qing jingjie xubian 皇清经解续编 Huáng Qīng jīngjiě xùbiān (“Sequel to the Qing Exegeses of the Classics”), continuation of Huang Qing jingjie, containing later Qing commentaries such as Yan Ruoqu’s Guwen Shangshu shuzheng.

Hui Dong Hui Dong 惠栋 Huì Dòng (1697–1758), Qing-dynasty scholar and philologist specializing in textual criticism and classical studies. Author of Shangshu guyi (尚书古义).

I

Ikeda Suetoshi Ikeda Suetoshi 池田末利 (1910–2000), Japanese sinologist and scholar of early Chinese classics. Author of Shangshu (尚書), an influential modern commentary and translation that integrates Japanese philological research with traditional Chinese Shangshu exegesis.

J

Jiao Xun Jiao Xun 焦循 Jiāo Xún (1741–1805), Qing-dynasty scholar. Author of Yugong Zhengzhushi (禹贡郑注释, Zheng Commentary and Annotations on the Tribute of Yu) and Shangshu Busu (尚书补疏, Supplementary Annotations on the Shangshu), important works in the Qing textual commentary tradition on the Shangshu.

Jiang Sheng Jiang Sheng 江声 Jiāng Shēng (1721–1799), Qing-dynasty scholar. Author of Shangshu jizhu yinshu (尚书集注音疏, Collected Commentary with Phonetic Notes on the Shangshu), providing textual and phonetic annotations for study of the Shangshu.

Jinteng Jinteng 金縢 (“Metal-Bound Coffer”), see Qinghua jian Jinteng jishi

Jinwen Shangshu Jinwen Shangshu 今文尚书 (Jīnwén Shàngshū, “Modern Script Shangshu”), the version of the Shangshu transmitted in the Han dynasty with 28 extant chapters, written in contemporary clerical script. It forms the basis of the standard text included in the Shisanjing zhushu.

Jinwen Shangshu ershiba pian jie Jinwen Shangshu ershiba pian jie 尚书今文二十八篇解 Jīnwén Shàngshū èrshíbā piān jiě (Exegesis of the Twenty-eight Chapters of the Modern Script Shangshu), by Yang Zhongtai 杨钟泰, providing commentary on the Jinwen Shangshu version.

Jinwen Shangshu jingshuo kao Jinwen Shangshu jingshuo kao 今文尚书经说考 Jīnwén Shàngshū jīngshuō kǎo (Examination of the Lost Sayings of the Modern Script Shangshu), a Qing-dynasty study by Chen Qiaocong 陳喬樅. The work investigates fragments and lost commentarial traditions of the Jinwen Shangshu, analyzing the transmission and interpretation of the Modern Script version of the Shangshu.

K

Kaicheng shijing Kaicheng shijing 开成石经/開成石經 Kāichéng shíjīng ("Stone Classics of the Kaicheng Era", with text of the Shangshu)

Kong Anguo Kong Anguo 孔安国 Kǒng Ānguó (fl. 1st century BCE), Western Han scholar and descendant of Confucius. Known for his commentaries on the Confucian classics, including the Shangshu. His work contributed to the transmission and interpretation of both the “Modern Script” and “Old Script” versions of the Shangshu and influenced later Qing and modern studies of the text.

Kong Anguo Shangshu zhuan Kong Anguo Shangshu zhuan 孔安国尚书传 Kǒng Ānguó Shàngshū zhuàn (Book of Documents with a Commentary by Kong Anguo), in former times wrongly attributed to Kong Anguo 孔安国 (fl. 1st century BCE), Western Han scholar and descendant of Confucius. This work provides commentary on the Shangshu and played a significant role in the transmission and interpretation of both the “Modern Script” and “Old Script” versions. Although the original text is largely lost, later scholars and compilations refer to its content, making it an important source in the study of Shangshu textual tradition.

Kong Yingda Kong Yingda 孔颖达 Kǒng Yǐngdá (ca. 574–648), Tang-dynasty Confucian scholar and chief editor of the Wujing zhengyi (五经正义). Compiler of Shangshu zhengyi.

L

Liu Yu Liu Yu 刘馀 Liú Yú (Prince Gong of Lu), a Han-dynasty prince who was said to have discovered the Guwen Shangshu hidden in the walls of Confucius’ residence.

M

Mao Qiling Mao Qiling 毛奇齡 Máo Qíling (1623–1716), Qing-dynasty scholar and philologist. In his Guwen Shangshu yuanci 古文尚書冤詞 (In Defence of the Old Text Documents) he defended the authenticity of the Guwen Shangshu against the textual criticism of Yan Ruoqu. Mao Qiling authored numerous commentaries and writings on the Confucian classics, and his debates with Yan Ruoqu are considered a landmark case (公案 gong’an) in the history of Shangshu textual criticism.

Ma Rong Ma Rong 馬融 (79–166) Eastern Han dynasty, see Guwen Shangshu Ma-Zheng zhu (by Sun Xingyan).

Mei Ze Mei Ze 梅赜 Méi Zé (fl. 4th c.), Eastern Jin scholar who presented the so-called Guwen Shangshu to the court; this version is now widely regarded as apocryphal.

P

Pingjinguan congshu Pingjinguan congshu 平津馆丛书 Píngjīnguǎn cóngshū (“Pingjin Studio Series”), late Qing scholarly series edited and printed by Sun Xingyan, containing philological studies and classical commentaries, including Shangshu jinguwen zhushu.

Pi Xirui Pi Xirui 皮锡瑞 Pí Xīruì (1800–1860), Qing-dynasty scholar and textual critic. Author of Shangshu dazhuan shuzheng (尚书大传疏证), in which he provided critical commentary and evidential notes on the Shangshu dazhuan, contributing to the study of the textual transmission and exegesis of the Shangshu. Author of Jinwen Shangshu kaozheng (今文尚书考证, Textual Verification of the Modern Script Shangshu), 30 juan, a key work in the study of the Shangshu transmission and exegesis.

Q

Qinghua jian Jinteng jishi Qinghua jian Jinteng jishi 清华简〈金縢〉集释 Qīnghuá jiǎn Jīnténg jíshì (Collected Annotations on the “Jinteng” Tsinghua Bamboo Slips), a modern scholarly edition providing comprehensive commentary on the Jinteng texts discovered among the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips. Published in the series Qinghua jian jishi congshu 清华简集释丛书 (Qīnghuá jiǎn jíshì cóngshū, Collected Annotations Series on the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips), a series of scholarly editions compiling commentaries and studies on various texts from the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips.cf. ctwx.tsinghua.edu.cn

Qu Wanli Qu Wanli 屈萬里 Qū Wànlǐ (1907–1979), modern Chinese philologist and historian. Author of Shangshu shiyi (尚書釋義) and Shangshu jingu jinyi (尚書今詁今譯), which combine traditional commentary with modern philological and linguistic insights into the Shangshu.

S

Shangshu (Ikeda Suetoshi)