Wujing zhengyi 五經正義

Wujing zhengyi 五經正義 "The correct meaning of the Five Classics" is a collection of commentaries on the Five Confucian Classics (Wujing 五經) written by the Tang-period 唐 (618-907) scholar Kong Yingda 孔穎達 (574-648) on imperial order and published in 651.

The original title of the Wujing zhengyi was Wujing yizan 五經義贊 "Appraised meaning of the Five Classics". The whole book is 180-juan long. It is based on older commentaries and critically comments on these and adds new interpretations. The word zheng 正 in the title means actually "orthodox", suggesting that the interpretation laid down in this book was to be regarded as authoritative. The Wujing zhengyi became indeed an integral part of the collected commentaries to the Thirteen Classics (Shisanjing 十三經), the Shisanjing zhushu 十三經注疏 that were compiled during the Song period 宋 (960-1279).

The collection includes the main text of the Five Classics Yijing 易經 (Zhouyi 周易), Shangshu 尚書, Shijing 詩經 (Maoshi 毛詩), Liji 禮記 and Chunqiu-Zuozhuan 春秋左傳, and their commentaries. All commentaries could also be used as separate texts and are also quoted as such.

The Zhouyi zhengzi 周易正義 is 14-juan long and includes the commentary of Wang Bi 王弼 (226-249) from the Wei period 曹魏 (220-265) to the core part, and that of Han Kangbo 韓康伯 (332-380) from the Jin period 晉 (265-420) for the Xici 系辭 chapters.

The Shangshu zhengyi 尚書正義 is 20-juan long and includes the commentary that is traditionally attributed to Kong Anguo 孔安國 (c. 156-74 BCE) from the Han period 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE).

The Maoshi zhengyi 毛詩正義 is 40-juan long and includes the commentaries of the Han period scholars Mao Heng 毛亨 (the Greater Mao 大毛公) and Zheng Xuan 鄭玄 (127-200).

The Liji zhengyi 禮記正義 is 70-juan long and includes Zheng Xuan's commentary.

The commentary Chunqiu-Zuozhuan zhengyi 春秋左傳正義 finally is 36 juan long and includes the commentary by the Jin period master Du Yu 杜預 (222-284).