On Genre of Wen Xuan

Preface genre is traced back to its origin Shi Da Xu. It is, in its development, classified into catalogue study, stylistic function, artistic form and the like. Wen Xuan collects the best prefaces from pre Qin to Liang of Southern Dynasties. It supplies rich detailed material for the study ever since Sui Tang Dynasties. Wen Xuan Xu has enclosed as many as possible selected prefaces. The typical artistic colour of prefaces is: why the book is written what has been written is systematic.