Xiang Liu

Living during China’s Han dynasty, Xiang Liu—better known in English sources as Liu Xiang—was a scholar, writer, and imperial librarian. He served the court and became one of the key figures in the preservation of early Chinese texts.

He is best known for editing and cataloging important works at a time when many ancient writings were being collected, compared, and restored. His efforts helped transmit major pieces of Chinese literature and learning, and he is often linked with the compilation of the Shuoyuan and the Lienü zhuan.

For modern readers, his importance lies not only in what he wrote, but in what he saved. Much of his reputation comes from his careful work as an editor and organizer of books, which left a lasting mark on Chinese literary history.