Xu Shen
Chinese author of Shuowen Jiezi · Writers · Lived 58 to 147 · aged 89
Xu Shen was a Chinese calligrapher, philologist, politician, and writer of the Eastern Han dynasty. During his own lifetime, Xu was recognized as a preeminent scholar of the Five Classics.
Xu Shen is read about 45 times a day, in 21 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 10 October 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 120 days, one point a day.
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About this person
He was the author of Shuowen Jiezi, which was the first comprehensive dictionary of Chinese characters, as well as the first to organize entries by radical. This work continues to provide scholars with information on the development and historical usage of Chinese characters. Xu Shen completed his first draft in 100 CE but, waited until 121 CE before having his son present the work to the Emperor An of Han.
