The Wen Xuan was compiled during the 520s by Xiao Tong, the son of Emperor Wu of Liang and Crown Prince of the Liang dynasty, at the Liang dynasty capital Jiankang (modern Nanjing) with the assistance of his closest friends and associates.
Xiao spent much of his leisure time in the company of the leading Chinese scholars of his day, and their serious discussions of literature impelled the creation of the Wen Xuan.