Zheng Xuan (simplified: 郑玄, traditional: 鄭玄, pinyin: Zhèng Xuán), courtesy name Kangcheng (康成 Kāngchéng), was a Han dynasty Confucian scholar who wrote influential commentaries on the classics (including the Mao Shi, Zhou Li, and Liji). He studied at the Taixue and under Ma Rong and became the leading classical scholar of his day. He refused repeated offers of office from He Jin, Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and others, preferring to teach and write. Sun Qian was among his disciples. When Yuan Shao held a great feast and invited Zheng Xuan, Yuan Shao’s guests included many famous men; Zheng Xuan was placed among the elderly and was offered a high rank, which he declined. He died in 200 in Yuan Shao’s territory. His commentaries became the standard for later Confucian learning.
Biography
Scholarship and refusal of office
Zheng Xuan was from Gaomi in Beihai. He studied the classics and travelled to study under Ma Rong. He returned to the east and taught; thousands of students came to him. He was repeatedly summoned to office (Grand Commandant under He Jin, etc.) but pleaded illness or declined. He avoided direct service under the warlords while sometimes accepting their protection.
Death and legacy
He was in the north when Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were at war. He died in 200. His exegetical works dominated later classical scholarship and were central to the development of Han learning (漢學). Sun Qian, who served Liu Bei, had studied under him.