active 11th century Wenying

Little is known for certain about Wenying's life, but standard reference sources describe him as a Buddhist monk of the Song dynasty, active in the 11th century, with the courtesy name Daowen. He is chiefly remembered as a writer of informal historical and literary miscellanies rather than as an official court historian.

He is best known for two works, Xiangshan Yelu and Yuhu Qinghua. These books gather anecdotes, observations, and stories about public figures, poetry, and political life, which helps explain why later readers have valued them as lively supplements to more formal histories.

Because the record is thin, many personal details about him remain uncertain. What stands out clearly is the flavor of his writing: curious, observant, and deeply interested in preserving memorable episodes from the culture of the Northern Song period.