active 17th century Erzeng Yang

Very little seems to be firmly documented in easily accessible English sources about this author's life, but Yang Erzeng was active in China during the 17th century. He is best known today as the author of The Story of Han Xiangzi (Han Xiangzi quanzhuan), a vernacular novel centered on one of the Eight Immortals and written with a strong Daoist spirit.

Chinese reference sources also describe him as an editor, compiler, and publisher who issued a range of popular works, including fiction, strange-tale collections, and illustrated books. Harvard's rare-book records likewise connect his name with the publishing house Yibai Tang, suggesting that he was important not only as a storyteller but also as a producer of printed culture.

Because biographical details are scarce, the surviving books are the clearest way to meet him: through energetic storytelling, religious imagination, and a clear interest in making texts visually appealing and widely readable.