Xue Ying (simplified: 薛莹, traditional: 薛瑩, pinyin: Xuē Yíng), courtesy name Daoyan (道言 Dàoyán), was an official and historian of Eastern Wu. He was the son of Xue Zong (薛綜). Under Sun Liang, Zhuge Ke recommended Wei Yao as Prefect of the Histories to compile the Wu shu (吳書); Xue Ying, Hua He, and others took part. Xue Ying was later exiled or demoted (the circumstances vary in sources). Hua He submitted a memorial asking Sun Hao to recall Xue Ying so that he could continue his historical work. Lu Kang listed Xue Ying with Lou Xuan, He Shao, and others as upright officials who were pillars of the state.
Biography
Compilation of the Wu shu
Xue Ying participated in the compilation of the Wu shu (吳書), the official history of Wu, together with Wei Yao, Hua He, and others. The project continued under several reigns. Xue Ying held the post of Prefect of the Histories or equivalent and contributed to the annals and biographies.
Exile and recall
At some point Xue Ying was sent away (exiled or demoted). Hua He memorialised Sun Hao, asking that Xue Ying be recalled and restored to the compilation so that the Wu shu could be completed. The outcome is not always clearly recorded; Xue Ying is grouped with other scholars and upright officials who suffered or were marginalised under Sun Hao.
Legacy
Xue Ying is remembered as one of the compilers of the Wu shu and as a scholar-official whose recall Hua He advocated. He appears in Lu Kang’s list of men who served the state with integrity.