Yuan Xingpei (袁行霈) (1936- ), a native of Wujin, Jiangsu province, graduated from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University (北京大學中文系) in 1957. He is a professor at the Department of Chinese Language and Literature of Peking University, director of the Faculty of the Humanities, dean of the Institute of Traditional Chinese Culture and chief editor of the publication Guo Xue Yan Jiu (Studies in Sinology) (國學研究). He was a teacher at The University of Tokyo, Japan; a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore and a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s Harvard－Yenching Institute (燕京學社). He also lectured at many universities, including Aichi University in Japan, Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University and University of Washington in the United States and Tamkang University (淡江大學) in Taiwan. His major works include Zhongguo Shi Ge Yi Shu Yan Jiu (Research on Chinese Poetical Art) (中國詩歌藝術研究), Zhongguo Wen Xue Gai Lun (A General Introduction on Chinese Literature) (中國文學概論), Tao Yuanming Yan Jiu (Research on Tao Yuanming) (陶淵明研究), Dang Dai Xue Zhe Zi Xuan Wen Ku: Yuan Xingpei (Self-Selected Works of Yuan Xingpei, Contemporary Scholars Series) (當代學者自選文庫·袁行霈卷), the four-volume Zhongguo Wen Xue Shi  (History of Chinese Literature) (中國文學史四卷本) (chief editor),  Zhongguo Wen Yan Xiao Shuo Shu Mu (Classical Chinese Novel Titles) (中國文言小說書目) (co-edited work), Wei Jin Nan Bei Zhao Wen Xue Shi Can Kao Zi Liao (Reference Materials on the History of Literature in Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties) (魏晉南北朝文學史參考資料) (as one of the chief editors), Li Dai Ming Bian Shang Xi Ji Cheng (Appreciating and Understanding Masterpieces Through the Ages: A Compilation) (歷代名篇賞析集成) (chief editor), Zhongguo Shi Xue Tong Lun (Studies on Chinese Poetry) (中國詩學通論) (co-authored) and Yuan Xingpei Xue Shu Wen Hua Sui Bi (Casual Academic and Cultural Writings by Yuan Xingpei) (袁行霈學術文化隨筆). He also published Tao Yuanming Ji · Fu He Tao Shi Liu Zhong (The Tao Yuanming Collection, Along With Six Types of Poems Imitating His Style) (陶淵明集·附和陶詩六種), a compilation of ancient texts that he reorganized. 

He was the recipient of the national-class special award of the inaugural National Teaching Achievement Award (High Education); the Excellent Publications in Philosophy and Social Sciences top award (second season) from Beijing Municipality (北京市第二屆哲學社會科學優秀成果獎一等獎) as well as the Ministry of Education’s Excellent Textbooks for National Higher Education Institutions special award (高等學校出版社優秀學術專著特等獎) for his work A Study of the Art of Chinese Poetry the Excellent Publications in Philosophy and Social Sciences special award (sixth season) from Beijing Municipality and the National Book Award (國家圖書獎) (fifth season) for the four-volume History of Chinese Literature that he edited; and last but not least, a National Book Award (third season) nomination and the second prize of Remarkable Achievements on Research on Humanities and Social Sciences for Higher Education Institutions of China (普通高校第二屆人文社會科學研究成果獎) for his co-authored work Studies on Chinese Poetry. He was also the recipient of a Model Worker of the National Education System and Teacher of the People Medal (全國教育系統勞動模範稱號暨人民教師獎章), and winner of the titles Teacher of the People of Beijing Municipality (the best ten teachers selected by the public) (北京市人民教師（公眾推選的十佳教師）) and Advanced Worker of Beijing Municipality (北京市先進工作者).