Fayan (book)

Fayan
AuthorYang Xiong
Original title法言
LanguageClassical Chinese
GenrePhilosophy
Publication date
c. AD 9
Publication placeChina
Fayan
Chinese
Literal meaningModel sayings
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinFǎyán
Gwoyeu RomatzyhFaa Yan
Wade–GilesFa Yen
IPA[fà jɛ̌n]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationFaat Yìhn
JyutpingFaat3 jin4
IPA[fat̚˧ jin˩]
Southern Min
Tâi-lôHuat Giân
Middle Chinese
Middle ChinesePjop ngjon

The Fayan, also known in English as the Model Sayings or Exemplary Figures, is a Classical Chinese text by the Han dynasty writer and poet Yang Xiong that was completed c. AD 9. It comprises a collection of dialogues and aphorisms in which Yang gives responses to a wide variety of questions relating to philosophy, politics, literature, ethics, and scholarship.[1]

  1. ^ Knechtges (2010), p. 213.