Origins & Early Life

Yang Xiong (Chinese: 揚雄; 53 BCE – 18 CE), courtesy name Ziyun (子雲), was a Chinese philosopher, poet, linguist and politician of the Western Han dynasty known for his philosophical writings and fu poetry compositions. Together with Sima Xiangru, Yang was one of the most famous and illustrious figures of the entire Han dynasty. The Book of Han (Hanshu) devotes a full two-part chapter to both Yang and Sima, an honor surpassing that of even the most famous generals and ministers. Yang's most famous work is the Fayan, a philosophical work modeled on the Analects, in which Yang criticizes fu writers for focusing on ornate, esoteric language while ignoring more important issues of morality.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Yang's other works include the Taixuanjing, a divination text based on the I Ching, "Justification Against Ridicule" (解嘲; Jiě cháo), one of the best known examples of the "fu of frustration" subgenre, and the Fangyan, a dictionary documenting regional vocabulary from throughout China at the time. Writers in the Tang dynasty juxtaposed Yang Xiong with Mencius and Xunzi, with Mencius (fl. 4th century BCE) considering human nature good, Xunzi (c. 300–230 BCE) human nature...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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