Li Yexing, a scholar of the Northern Wei dynasty during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period, was determined to learn from a young age, often carrying books on his back to seek out teachers and friends, dedicating himself tirelessly to the study of classical texts. At that time, Xianyu Lingfu of Yuyang was a renowned teacher with many students, and Li Yexing once studied under him. When Xianyu Lingfu was explaining the *Zuo Commentary*, Li Yexing posed several questions that stumped the teacher, leaving him unable to answer.
Li Yexing's studies were not limited to the classics and histories; he also extensively explored divination texts and astronomy, excelling especially in calendrical calculations. He led the compilation of the "Wuzi Calendar," which was officially adopted in the third year of the Zhengguang era under Emperor Ming of Northern Wei. He also revised one volume each of the Yin Calendar and the Yellow Emperor's Calendar, which were passed down to later generations.
When the Northern Wei dynasty moved its capital to Ye, the city lay in ruins from war, its buildings and walls reduced to rubble. Xin Ji, the imperial construction minister, recommended Li Yexing to lead the designers in drafting the capital's new blueprint.
Xin Ji said, "Li Yexing is a great scholar, widely learned and knowledgeable. Let him consult ancient and modern sources, establish the capital's layout, gather painters to draw new plans, then present them to the emperor for a final decision—this task will surely be accomplished well." The emperor approved Xin Ji's request.
Later, the idiom "Bo Wen Duo Shi" came to describe someone with extensive knowledge and rich learning.
Source: *Book of Wei*, "Biography of Li Yexing"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "博闻多识" came to describe how someone with extensive knowledge and rich learning.