Yáo Fàn 姚範
Zì Nánjīng 南菁; hào Jiāngwù 薑塢. Native of Tǒngchéng 桐城 (Anhuī). Jìnshì of Qiánlóng 7 (1742). Lifedates 1702–1771.
Member of the great Tǒngchéng-school 桐城派 of Qing prose, paternal uncle (or older relative) of 姚鼐 (Yáo Nài, 1731–1815), the dean of the school. Held Hànlín shìjiǎng 翰林侍講 and various editorial posts in the Wǔyīngdiàn. As Wǔyīngdiàn editor he contributed kǎozhèng notes to several of the Sìkù zhèngshǐ — most prominently the Běi Qí shū (KR2a0021).
Principal works: the Yuán Chún táng bǐ jì 援鶉堂筆記 (50 juǎn), a kǎozhèng-style miscellany covering classics, history, and yīnyùn — the principal vehicle of his scholarly opinions; the Yuán Chún táng wén jí 援鶉堂文集. Yáo Fàn’s writings are particularly important as a transitional document between the Qing kǎozhèng tradition (in which he was deeply trained) and the Tǒngchéng gǔwén aesthetic (which he passed to his nephew Yáo Nài).