I Classici nella Cina antica

e Classics in Ancient China e study of the reception of the Classics in China offers a compelling view of how these texts’ meanings have evolved over the centuries, challeng- ing the notion of a stable and “original”, authentic meaning. e Five Classics (Wǔjīng 五經), the cornerstone of elite education and the embodiment of imperial orthodoxy from the 2nd century BCE, have seen their interpretation and use change profoundly in response to shifting political and socio-cultural needs. e inseparable link between the classic and its commentary is crucial: Classics owe their authority to the interpretations that accompany and renew them. In this context, traditional distinctions between author and exegete, canon and commentary, often blur, revealing that a literary work’s meaning arises from an ongoing dialogue between the text and the myriad voices that reinterpret it over time.