The guwen (classical literature) movement that Ouyang founded advocated the writing of accessible essays on difficult issues. It thrived for 1,000 years until the baihua (vernacular) movement ended it.
歐陽修的古文運動是藉著平易近人的散文來討論艱難的問題，達到「文閒意深」的境界，古文在他的倡導下，盛行千年，直到白話文運動興起方休。