Liu Xiang

Oversaw the collation of the imperial library and compiled the Bielu, China's first work of bibliography.

Life

Imperial clan scholar

Liu Xiang, originally named Liu Gengsheng, was a member of the Han dynasty imperial clan. Under Emperor Yuan of Han he served as Zongzheng (Director of the Imperial Clan); for opposing the eunuch Shi Xian's domination of power he was imprisoned twice and reduced to commoner status for more than ten years.

Opposed Shi Xian

After Emperor Cheng of Han took the throne, Liu Xiang was recalled to office, and in 26 BCE he was commissioned to collate the palace library. He sorted and collated the books one by one, writing a synopsis of each, and compiled these into the Bielu, China's earliest work of bibliography.

Collating texts at Tianlu Pavilion

He also edited the Strategies of the Warring States and the Chu Ci, and wrote the Biographies of Exemplary Women, the Xinxu and the Shuoyuan, among other works. His son Liu Xin continued his father's work and compiled the Qilue.

Legacy

Liu Xiang founded the Chinese tradition of collating ancient texts and of bibliography, and many pre-Qin works survive today precisely because he edited them.

Major works & achievements

• Bielu
• Compiled the Strategies of the Warring States
• Biographies of Exemplary Women

Did you know? The title and chapter order of the Strategies of the Warring States as we read it today were set by him.

Key dates

• 48 BCEBecame Zongzheng (Director of the Imperial Clan)
• 47 BCEOpposed Shi Xian, imprisoned
• 26 BCECommissioned to collate the palace library
• 6 BCEDied