For the modern reader, to understand how prominent representatives of a commentarial tradition interpreted the text is to reflect on the preconditions (and preconceptions) of our own understanding. This book attempts to address our neglect of commentaries by analyzing four key works from the early third century to the mid-nineteenth century: the commentaries of He Yan (ca. 190-249) and his colleagues; Huang Kan (488-545); Zhu Xi (1130-1200); and Liu Baonan (1791-1855) and his son Liu Gongmian (1821-1880).