The historiographical theory that the Six Classics (the 易经 yì​jīng, 书经 shū​jīng, 诗经 shī​jīng, 礼记 lǐ​jì, 乐经 yuè​jīng, and 春秋 chūn​qiū) should be viewed as historical records of ancient culture and government rather than purely as works of moral philosophy or sacred scripture