Chao Zhang

Born in 1650 in Shexian, Anhui, he was an early Qing scholar, writer, and publisher whose literary identity is often linked with the courtesy name Shanlai and the studio name Xinzhai. Sources consistently associate him with the rich book culture of the Qing period and describe him as more than just an author: he was also an energetic compiler and editor with a strong feel for what readers would enjoy.

He is especially known for Youmengying (幽夢影), a compact, aphoristic work in the biji, or "brush-notes," style. He is also connected with Yu Chu xinzhi and with major collectanea projects such as Zhaodai congshu, showing how much of his legacy lies in shaping, preserving, and circulating texts as well as writing his own.

The surviving reference material found here gives his dates as 1650 to 1707 in some sources, while others only confirm a birth year of 1650. Even with that uncertainty, the picture is clear: he stands out as a witty, curious literary figure whose work captures the sociable, cultivated world of early Qing reading and conversation.