Xu Shen

Xu Shen was a Chinese scholar from the Han dynasty, best known for his work on the Chinese writing system. He authored the "Shuowen Jiezi," a comprehensive dictionary that categorizes Chinese characters by their structure and meaning. This text, completed around the 2nd century AD, laid the foundation for understanding and studying Chinese characters, significantly influencing linguistics and philology in China. Xu Shen’s contributions highlight the importance of character etymology and the relationship between language and culture in ancient Chinese society. His work remains relevant in the study of Chinese language today.