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Zheng Xuan (127– July 200According to Zheng Xuan's biography in Book of the Later Han, he died aged 74 (by East Asian reckoning) in the 6th month of the 5th year of the Jian'an era of Liu Xie's reign. This corresponds to 30 Jun to 28 Jul 200 in the Julian calendar. (建安五年春....疾笃不进，其年六月卒，年七十四。) Houhanshu, vol.35), courtesy name Kangcheng (), was a Chinese philosopher, politician, and writer who lived towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty. He was born in Gaomi, Beihai Commandery (modern Weifang), and was a student of Ma Rong, together with Lu Zhi.(融才高博洽，为世通儒，教养诸生，常有千数。涿郡卢植，北海郑玄，皆其徒也。) Houhanshu, vol.60 part 1
Like his teacher, he was a member of the Old Text School, that challenged the state orthodox New Text School. His contemporary rival was He Xiu (, 129–182). Zheng is notable for his syncretic attempt to bridge the two centuries of rivalry between the two schools. He adopted the strengths of each school in interpreting the Confucian classics, although he usually favoured the Old Text teachings. He was very influential, but the government never officially adopted his teachings. The Han dynasty was already in decline during his lifetime and collapsed a decade after his death. Neither school survived the chaos, but Zheng's conception of Confucianism would be the mainstream interpretation for centuries.
In 200, during the Battle of Guandu, the warlord Yuan Shao ordered Zheng to Yuan's stronghold (in modern-day Daming County, Hebei Province), where he died of illness in around July of that year.
The commemorative shrine of Zheng Xuan in Shandong was rebuilt under the supervision of Ruan Yuan (阮元; 1764–1849) in 1793.Elman, Benjamin A. Classicism, politics, and kingship: the Chang-chou school of New Text Confucianism in late imperial China (e-resource). 1990:220.
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