Fenli oucun 分隸偶存

Fenli oucun 分隸偶存 is a catalogue on calligraphic works in the bafen 八分 style of the chancery script (fenli 分隸) compiled during the high Qing period 清 (1644-1911) by Wan Jing 萬經 (c. 1160-1743), courtesy name Shouyi 授一, style Jiusha 九沙, from Yinxian 鄞縣, Zhejiang. He obtained the jinshi degree in 1703 and was junior compiler (bianxiu 編修) in the Hanlin Academy 翰林院.

The book has a length of 2 juan. The first fascicle gives an account on calligraphy in general (Zuo shufa 作書法), and of the chancery script in particular (Zuo fenli shufa 作分隸書法). It then discusses the features of the bafen style (lun fenli 論分隸) and its conversion into the regular script (Lun li fen kai suo you qi 論隸分楷所由起). The next section clarifies the differences between the use of the chancery script during the Han 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE), and that during the Tang period 唐 (618-907); Lun Han-Tang fenli tongyi 論漢唐分隸同異). The fascicle closes with a discussion of the use of the chancery script on stone tablets during the Han and Wei period 曹魏 (220-265; Han-Wei bei kao 漢魏碑考). The second fascicle presents names and achievements of calligraphers who mastered the chancery script, with brief biographies for 312 persons.

The book is a detailed account of the origins and development of the bafen style, inscriptions surviving on stone steles, the shortcomings and strengths of individual calligraphers, and the mastery of the brush. The book is of great value because only a few scholars were interested in the chancery script after the Song period 宋 (960-1279). His comments on early stele inscriptions are also very unique. For most, but not for all, entries, Wan Jing provides his literary sources.

The book was first printed in 1769. It is included in the imperial series Siku quanshu 四庫全書, and was afterwards reprinted in 1832, and 1881. It is also found in the series Jilin tanyuan shufang congshu 吉林探源書舫叢書 and Siming congshu 四明叢書.