Readers of this volume will be able to tell from the Introduction andnotes throughout the book how great a debt I owe to many distin-guished scholars past and present. Without them, this work would havebeen impossible. Here I want to express my gratitude to a number ofpeople who have influenced this project more directly. The book isdedicated to David R. Knechtges, whose kindness and inspirationalmentorship changed everything. He is the founder of this repast. Longago, the late C. H. Wang was one of the first to suggest that I studyCao Zhi. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him as mentorand friend. I have also benefitted from the work and cordiality of XuGongchi of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who was for twen-ty years the editor of Literary Heritage. Dr. Liu Qian of Arizona StateUniversity’s Hayden Library aided me on a question involving editionsand provided references.