Chén Zǔfàn 陳祖范
Style names Yìhán 亦韓 and Jiànfù 見復 (the source preface uses both alternately). Native of Chángshú 常熟 (in Sūzhōu prefecture, Jiāngsū). Passed the Yōngzhèng guǐmǎo (1723) metropolitan examination and was admitted jǔrén (provincial graduate); died before he could take the diàn shì (palace examination). In Qiánlóng xīnwèi (1751) he was nominated for Bóxué hóngcí (specialist classical learning) and was specially granted the title Guózǐ jiàn sī yè xián 國子監司業銜 (Honorary Director of Imperial Academy Studies). His jīng readings — the Jīng zhǐ 經咫 (KR1g0029) — were once submitted for imperial inspection.
The work is the principal extant record of Chén’s classical scholarship, edited by his disciples (Guī Xuānguāng 歸宣光 et al.) and printed posthumously. The Sìkù tíyào assesses him as “near-time classical exegesis at its most upright and sound” — a high compliment for a Yōngzhèng/early-Qiánlóng generation of classical scholars.
The catalog meta gives lifedates 1676–1754; CBDB id 125410 gives 1675–1753. The CBDB date is followed here as more standard (per the Chángshú zhì and the Qing shǐ gǎo); the discrepancy is small (one year).