Xíng Shù 邢璹
Mid-Táng official; lifedates not exactly recoverable, active in the second quarter of the eighth century (Xuánzōng’s 玄宗 reign). Native place not in record. Held the offices of sìmén zhùjiào 四門助教 (“Aide of the Four-Gates School,” junior teaching post in the National Academy) — the title under which his commentary on Wáng Bì’s Zhōuyì lüèlì 周易略例 is signed (= part of KR1a0007) — and ended his career as Junior Director of State Visitors (Hónglú shǎoqīng 鴻臚少卿). His son Xíng Zǎi 邢縡 was put to death in 752 (Tiānbǎo 11) for plotted rebellion in the implication of the powerful Tángyuán 唐元 official Wáng Hóng 王鉷; the Tángshū Wáng Hóng zhuàn records the connection.
The Sìkù editors’ tiyao on KR1a0007 adds a notably hostile biographical note: per the Tàipíng guǎngjì 太平廣記, Xíng Shù while serving on a diplomatic mission to Silla 新羅 killed more than a hundred merchants and seized their goods, presenting the proceeds as tribute on his return — “the man himself,” the editors comment, “is beneath consideration; his commentary, however, has come down attached to Wáng’s text and so circulates to this day.”
His commentary on the Lüèlì is the only surviving witness to a Táng-period sub-commentary on this short hermeneutical-theoretical essay of Wáng Bì.