The foundational scriptures of Confucianism. The Four Books are [[大学|大學|da4 xue2]], [[中庸|中庸|zhong1 yong1]], [[论语|論語|lun2 yu3]], and [[孟子|孟子|meng4 zi3]]. The Five Classics are [[诗经|詩經|shi1 jing1]], [[尚书|尚書|shang4 shu1]], [[礼记|禮記|li3 ji4]], [[周易|周易|zhou1 yi4]], and [[春秋|春秋|chun1 qiu1]].

A rigid style of essay used in imperial examinations during the Ming and Qing dynasties; the content was restricted to the Four Books and interpretations by the scholar Zhu Xi.