Sun Xingyan's Epigraphic Exploration and Collection

Abstract

Sun Xingyan was a renowned epigraphic scholar of the Qianlong-Jiaqing period in the Qing dynasty and a typical representative of the Qianlong-Jiaqing textual research school. Throughout his life, he traveled extensively to regions rich in ancient sites, including Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Shandong, and the capital Beijing. Wherever he went, he personally visited and collected inscriptions and stone relics, resulting in an exceptionally extensive collection. Based primarily on Sun's work Records of Visiting Steles Across the World, this article systematically identifies various methods through which he acquired epigraphic materials—such as field visits, gifts from friends, and purchases. Drawing also upon Hong Yixuan's Ping Jin Du Bei Ji, which records Sun's catalogues and annotations of his collections, the study comprehensively analyzes the overall scale, chronological distribution, and geographical origins of Sun's lifetime epigraphic holdings. Building on this foundation, it further examines the distinctive characteristics of his collection—particularly its strong emphasis on Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasty steles while neglecting Song and Yuan dynasty works—and thoroughly explains the underlying reasons for the breadth and depth of his collection from four perspectives: his commitment to on-site exploration, the advantages of his official travels, his extensive network of scholarly contacts, and the support provided by his staff in military offices. This analysis clarifies Sun Xingyan's significant role within the Qing dynasty's system of collecting and documenting epigraphic materials.