Fu Sheng (scholar)

Fu Sheng (伏生), also known as Fu Zi (伏子), was a Confucian scholar who lived during the Qin Dynasty and early Han Dynasty (c. 260 BC – c. 160 BC). He is renowned for preserving a significant portion of the Shangshu (尚書), or Classic of History (also known as the Book of Documents), a collection of historical documents and speeches attributed to ancient Chinese rulers.

During the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered the burning of books and burying of scholars, aiming to suppress dissenting views and solidify his rule. Fu Sheng risked his life to hide a copy of the Shangshu within the walls of his home.

After the Qin Dynasty fell and the Han Dynasty was established, Emperor Wen of Han sought to restore Confucian texts and learning. He heard of Fu Sheng's preservation of the Shangshu and sent officials to retrieve it. However, Fu Sheng, by this time an elderly man, had memorized much of the text but was only able to produce a version of approximately 28 chapters (or sections) written in ancient script. This version is known as the Jinwen Shangshu (今文尚書), or Modern Text Classic of History, because it was written in the script used at the time of the Han Dynasty.

Fu Sheng played a crucial role in the transmission of Confucian learning by teaching the Shangshu to his students. His efforts are considered vital to the survival of this important historical and philosophical text. Although there were controversies surrounding the authenticity of later versions of the Shangshu (specifically the Guwen Shangshu or Old Text Classic of History), Fu Sheng's version remained a cornerstone of Confucian scholarship. He is honored as a key figure in the preservation of ancient Chinese literature and thought.