Confucian classics penetrate the depths of the human mind. A classic becomes one because it serves as an example in many ways. In The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, Liu Xie (465?-520? or 532?) of the Southern Dynasties discussed the characteristics and achievements of the Confucian classics in the chapter “Use of Confucian Classics as Guidance.” According to Liu, the classics contained Confucian thought and played a very important role in moral education. He believed that the Confucian classics had a profound understanding of human nature, delving into the subtle and innerpsychological activities of human beings and capturing the essence of writings. This view creatively captures the depth of the human mind through writing, and set the trend for later generation scholars to give expression to the human mind through writing.

The classics contain eternal truths and indelible teachings. They are based on movement of heaven and earth and draw inspiration from spirits and deities; they examine the order of all things and establish regulations for the human world. The classics penetrate the depth of the human mind and capture the essence of writings. (Liu Xie: The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons)

Only when a person is well-versed in classical teachings, it is possible to discuss giving full expression to the inner self with him; and if a person fails to express the inner self, it won’t be possible to discuss classical teachings with him. Therefore, those who drew inspiration from classics in writing, such as Dong Zhongshu, Jia Kui, Cui Yin and Cai Yong, produced well-argued, not trivial articles. (Jiao Xun: Correspondence with Circuit Intendant Sun Yuanru Discussing Textual Research Writings)