《文心雕龙·宗经》
所以论、说、辞、序等体裁，都从《周易》开始；诏、策、章、奏等体裁，都发源于《尚书》；赋、颂、歌、赞等体裁，都以《诗经》为本源；铭、诔、箴、祝等体裁，都从《礼经》开端；纪、传、盟、檄等体裁，都以《春秋》为根本。这些经书都为后世树立了最好的榜样，替文章的发展开辟了极为广阔的领域。
故论说辞序，则《易》统其首；诏策章奏，则《书》发其源；赋颂歌赞，则《诗》立其本；铭诔箴祝，则《礼》总其端；记传铭檄，则《春秋》为根：并穷高以树表，极远为启疆，所以百家腾跃，终入环内者也。
Therefore, genres such as "argumentation", "discussion", "declamation", and "préface" all began with the Book of Changes; genres such as "imperial edicts", "royal decrees", "chapters", and "memorials" all originated from the Book of Documents; genres such as "poetry", "hymns", "songs", and "praises" all had their roots in the Book of Poetry; genres such as "inscriptions", "eulogies", "admonitions", and "benedictions" all began with the Book of Rites; genres such as "histories", "biographies", "covenants", and "denouncements" all had their foundations in the Spring and Autumn Annals. All of these classics set the best examples for later generations and opened up extremely broad areas for the development of literature.