《汉书·志·艺文志》
春秋后，周朝王道逐渐被破坏，诸侯之间通问修好时歌咏不再出现在各国，学《诗》的人隐逸在民间，贤能失志的人就去创作赋了。
春秋之后，周道浸坏，聘问歌咏不行于列国，学《诗》之士逸在布衣，而贤人失志之赋作矣。
After the Spring and Autumn period, the royal authority of the Zhou dynasty began to deteriorate, and so the exchange of songs was no longer a feature of diplomacy among the feudal lords. Those who studied poetry became hermits living among the common people, while virtuous men who harbored political ambitions began composing fu.