The Ming writer Li Dongyang noted in his essay "Huailu Hall Poetry Talk" how "the people of the southeast hold poetry societies in high regard. In their verse-writing competitions a poet is appointed to make the topic and serve as judge, and the scored results are announced in order, much like for the civil service exams."
明人李東陽寫的《懷麓堂詩話》，就記載說「東南人看重詩社，會聘一位詩人為考官，再出題給能作詩的人，然後像科舉一樣開榜公佈名次。」