漢代揚雄(53BC-18)的作品與思想在北宋成為當時士人關切與爭論的重要議題，對其論著數量遠超過其他朝代。因此引起筆者對以下兩個問題的興趣：一、揚雄思想在北宋所扮演的角色；二、為何它會在那個時期對儒家士人具有那麼大的吸引力？本文藉著探討北宋思想家對於揚雄《太玄經》的看法來解釋這兩個問題，一方面注重揚雄重要性復興的現象，另一方面檢視北宋士人論議揚雄的內容。筆者發現北宋士人關於《太玄經》的討論可以分成一種著重揚雄的人品及行為的論述，影響北宋士人如何決定哪些儒者在傳統中的重要地位；另一種則更重視《太玄經》中的概念及理論，在《易經》的重要性以及天人之間的關係議題的思考上影響北宋士人。

In the eleventh century, the life and thought of the Han dynasty thinker Yang Xiong became an important topic of debate. Confucian literati of the Northern Song dynasty produced more writings devoted to Yang and his thought than during any other period in Chinese history. These facts raise two important questions. First, what role did Yang Xiong’s thought play during the Northern Song? And second, why did literati become interested in Yang Xiong at this time? This study analyzes how Northern Song thinkers viewed one of Yang’s major works, the Taixuan jing, in an effort to determine both why Yang’s ideas assumed renewed importance and what literati had to say about him. I argue that Northern Song writings on Yang’s Taixuan jing can be categorized into two distinct strains. The first strain focused on several issues related to Yang’s character and conduct, which influenced how Northern Song thinkers conceived of worthy status. The second strain centered on the theoretical doctrines found within the Taixuan jing, which served to inform Northern Song conceptions of the Yijing and the relationship between humanity and the cosmos.