<p>since your book is an introduction, i would suggest that the "four main categories" is 經﹒史﹒子﹒集; in sequence:</p>

<p><strong>classics - 經</strong></p>

<p><strong>history - 史</strong></p>

<p><strong>masters - 子</strong></p>

<p><strong>collections of belle lettres - 集</strong></p>

<p>the long explanation: in 漢 dynasty, texts were divided into 6 categories, according to the 七略 (~bc 5):</p>

<p>六藝略﹒諸子略﹒詩賦略﹒兵書略﹒數術略﹒方技略</p>

<p><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%83%E7%95%A5" rel="nofollow">https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/七略</a></p>

<p>later, in 西晉 (265 - 316), 荀勖 changed the six categories to four, in sequence:</p>

<pre><code>甲部 - 經書
乙部 - 子書 ( masters is the second category)
丙部 - 史書 ( history is the third category)
丁部 - 詩賦
</code></pre>

<p>afterward, in 東晉 (317 - 420), <strong>"~fourth century"</strong>, 李充 rearranged the categories to </p>

<pre><code>甲部 - 五經
乙部 - 史記 ( history is the second category)
丙部 - 諸子 ( masters is the third category)
丁部 - 詩賦
</code></pre>

<p><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E9%83%A8%E5%88%86%E9%A1%9E%E6%B3%95" rel="nofollow">https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/四部分類法</a></p>

<p>that, the sequence of 經﹒史﹒子﹒集 is unchanged, till today. next, imo, 詩賦 matched "belle lettres" more than 集, in the last category "collections of belle lettres"</p>

<p>you side note about the fourth category, you want to know the contents of it in which dynasty?</p>

<p>edited.</p>

<p>ok, the internet archive has the book <a href="https://archive.org/details/02091113.cn" rel="nofollow">補晉書藝文志</a>, which was compiled in 清 dynasty. in 卷四﹒丁部集錄 listed all texts / books / publications at that time (from ~p42 of pdf file). you may glimpse what was included in this "fourth category", in 晉 dynasty (265 - 420).</p>

<p>have fun :)</p>

<p>ps: just curious, may i ask, why you learn chinese literary, or it's history in english?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-31T20:08:09.257Z
*詩賦 matched "belle lettres" more then 集, in the last category "collections of belle lettres"*   --  文 also matched better than 集 for belle lettres because 集 included some metaphysics books.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-04T21:34:47.803Z
Thank you for your answer. Among many good answers, I chose this one, because it helped me most understand the fluidity of those terms. About your question: I just started studying Chinese at university. My Chinese is extremely bad. Beginners like myself can not (obviously) read the classics. Still, we are expected to know a few basics. We learn these in English and German.
Ludi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T01:48:29.533Z
poor pal   tips for u: learning literary chinese in traditional script, you don't need knowledge of modern vernacular version. amongst literary chinese, literatures of pre-秦 are most difficult, but are the origins of all successors. wish u can have fun. btw, i recommend this book in german, an excellent one about literary chinese: https://archive.org/details/chinesischegram00gabegoog
水巷孑蠻
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-31T18:45:52.333Z
2016-09-01T02:07:39.687Z
2016-09-01T02:07:39.687Z
水巷孑蠻
<p>I think it probably means 四部分類法: 經史子集</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-31T18:04:43.830Z
*四部分類法，是分類大部分中國古典典籍的方法，分經、史、子、集四类，这四类基本上囊括了中国古代的所有书籍。* https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E9%83%A8%E5%88%86%E9%A1%9E%E6%B3%95 It is four categories of "books"
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-31T13:30:22.567Z
2016-08-31T13:30:22.567Z
velut luna
<blockquote>
  <p>what are the Chinese terms? </p>
</blockquote>

<p>They are 儒，玄，史，文</p>

<ul>
<li>Classic (儒學)</li>
<li>Daoist and Buddhist Masters, (玄學)</li>
<li>History (史學)</li>
<li>Belles Lettres (文學)</li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p>I have trouble understanding the fourth category, since it seems not to include 小說。Would it be lyrics? Poetry? Say 樂府，輔鳥賦, non classic poetry like 楚辭？</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Different time period had different major form of "Belles Lettres" for example: 唐詩, 宋詞. Mostly circulated among the upper class circle. </p>

<p>小說 was considered of lower class, not worthy of included in the 文學 category at the time the category was created.</p>

<p>reference: <a href="http://r.ilong.cn/article/detail/id/34663.html" rel="nofollow">http://r.ilong.cn/article/detail/id/34663.html</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>立儒、玄、史、文四学为<strong>官学</strong> 
  (established: 1.Classic 2.Metaphysics 3.History 4.Fine Writing, four categories of literature study as the <strong>official categories of study</strong>)</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>Update:</strong> </p>

<p>I consulted an expert, he wrote:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"The first response was correct-- the four categories refer to 經 (classics), 史 (history), 子 (masters), and 集 (collection of letters). 經 refers to the main theory in Confucianism, and, in contrast, 子 refers to the challenges and defence from individual thinkers. 史 is the official history, and, in contrast, 集 is the supplementary materials, mostly poems that reflect the thinking of the society at the time.
  儒玄史文 makes no sense in this context. It is a phrase rarely used in classical Chinese." - Mr.K</p>
</blockquote>

<p>My argument was:</p>

<p>"經史子集 are four classifications of all classical books. It is still in use today; 儒玄史文 are categories of studies specifically refer to 南朝四学, and had became <strong>obsolete</strong>."</p>

<p>I just didn't  know for sure that which one the question was referring to. And based on the time difference, it is most likely refer to 四部分類法-- 經史子集</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-31T20:11:23.687Z
Seems like 經史子集 are categories of books; 儒玄史文 are categories of studies
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-01T00:39:38.563Z
fourth century is 301 - 400, even your quoted link marked 南朝宋文帝元嘉年間 which was 424 - 452; which was later than the "fourth century". secondly, it stated it's 來源 as "網摘"; isn't it doubtful?
水巷孑蠻
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-01T00:59:12.287Z
Even your reference https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/四部分類法 are user submitted articles, we have to just take them as they are-"references" Here is another one. http://www.baike.com/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E5%AD%A6  *(2).指 南朝 宋 设立的[儒、玄(道)、史、文四学馆]。《宋书·隐逸传·雷次宗》：“ 元嘉 十五年，徵 次宗 至京师，开馆於 鸡笼山 ，聚徒教授，置生百馀人， 会稽 朱膺之 、 颍川 庾蔚之 ，并以[儒学]监总诸生。时国子学未立，上留心艺术，使 丹阳 尹 何尚之 立[玄学]，太子率更令 何承天 立[史学]，司徒参军 谢元 立[文学]。凡四学并建。” 南朝 梁 沉约 《为皇太子谢表》：“不闲三善之训，未习四学之仪。”*
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-01T01:18:47.980Z
before pickup any info, read the time first :) 元嘉十五年 was 438; which was later than fourth century.
水巷孑蠻
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-01T01:28:01.087Z
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E9%83%A8%E5%88%86%E9%A1%9E%E6%B3%95 *而四部分類法的正式確立，即首次使用經史子集分類的是唐初官修的《隋書 經籍志》（李延壽，敬播等編著）.....此後歷代圖書目錄皆以經史子集為名*
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-31T13:34:13.230Z
2016-09-04T20:54:09.513Z
2016-09-04T20:54:09.513Z
Tang Ho
<p>I am reading <em>Sabrina Knight, Chinese Literature, A very short introduction</em>. The book mentions a fourth century division of literature into: </p>

<ul>
<li>Classics</li>
<li>History </li>
<li>Daoist and Buddhist Masters, Masters of Strategy, etc.</li>
<li>Belles Lettres</li>
</ul>

<p>What are the Chinese terms? </p>

<p>Below is the actual quote:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7hnMf.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7hnMf.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<hr>

<p>The rest is possibly off topic. I believe I can resolve it by web search, if I know the Chinese terms, but it is the reason for the question, so I include it as a side note:</p>

<p>I have trouble understanding the fourth category, since it seems not to include 小說。Would it be lyrics? Poetry? Say 樂府，輔鳥賦, non classic poetry like 楚辭？ The difference between <em>Belles lettres</em> and 小說 seems to be the conveying of the 道. While I understand the significance (at least a little) it is hard for me to tell what the category would include.</p>

<literature>
Categories in Chinese literature - Original terms
# Categories in Chinese literature - Original terms

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-31)

I am reading *Sabrina Knight, Chinese Literature, A very short introduction*. The book mentions a fourth century division of literature into:

* Classics
* History
* Daoist and Buddhist Masters, Masters of Strategy, etc.
* Belles Lettres

What are the Chinese terms?

Below is the actual quote:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7hnMf.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/7hnMf.jpg)

---

The rest is possibly off topic. I believe I can resolve it by web search, if I know the Chinese terms, but it is the reason for the question, so I include it as a side note:

I have trouble understanding the fourth category, since it seems not to include 小說。Would it be lyrics? Poetry? Say 樂府，輔鳥賦, non classic poetry like 楚辭？ The difference between *Belles lettres* and 小說 seems to be the conveying of the 道. While I understand the significance (at least a little) it is hard for me to tell what the category would include.

**Tags:** literature


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-31. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

since your book is an introduction, i would suggest that the "four main categories" is 經﹒史﹒子﹒集; in sequence:

**classics - 經**

**history - 史**

**masters - 子**

**collections of belle lettres - 集**

the long explanation: in 漢 dynasty, texts were divided into 6 categories, according to the 七略 (~bc 5):

六藝略﹒諸子略﹒詩賦略﹒兵書略﹒數術略﹒方技略

[https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/七略](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%83%E7%95%A5)

later, in 西晉 (265 - 316), 荀勖 changed the six categories to four, in sequence:

```
甲部 - 經書
乙部 - 子書 ( masters is the second category)
丙部 - 史書 ( history is the third category)
丁部 - 詩賦

```

afterward, in 東晉 (317 - 420), **"~fourth century"**, 李充 rearranged the categories to

```
甲部 - 五經
乙部 - 史記 ( history is the second category)
丙部 - 諸子 ( masters is the third category)
丁部 - 詩賦

```

[https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/四部分類法](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E9%83%A8%E5%88%86%E9%A1%9E%E6%B3%95)

that, the sequence of 經﹒史﹒子﹒集 is unchanged, till today. next, imo, 詩賦 matched "belle lettres" more than 集, in the last category "collections of belle lettres"

you side note about the fourth category, you want to know the contents of it in which dynasty?

edited.

ok, the internet archive has the book [補晉書藝文志](https://archive.org/details/02091113.cn), which was compiled in 清 dynasty. in 卷四﹒丁部集錄 listed all texts / books / publications at that time (from ~p42 of pdf file). you may glimpse what was included in this "fourth category", in 晉 dynasty (265 - 420).

have fun :)

ps: just curious, may i ask, why you learn chinese literary, or it's history in english?

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: *詩賦 matched "belle lettres" more then 集, in the last category "collections of belle lettres"*   --  文 also matched better than 集 for belle lettres because 集 included some metaphysics books.  
> **username_0**: Thank you for your answer. Among many good answers, I chose this one, because it helped me most understand the fluidity of those terms. About your question: I just started studying Chinese at university. My Chinese is extremely bad. Beginners like myself can not (obviously) read the classics. Still, we are expected to know a few basics. We learn these in English and German.  
> **username_1**: poor pal   tips for u: learning literary chinese in traditional script, you don't need knowledge of modern vernacular version. amongst literary chinese, literatures of pre-秦 are most difficult, but are the origins of all successors. wish u can have fun. btw, i recommend this book in german, an excellent one about literary chinese: https://archive.org/details/chinesischegram00gabegoog  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-08-31. Score: 1

I think it probably means 四部分類法: 經史子集

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: *四部分類法，是分類大部分中國古典典籍的方法，分經、史、子、集四类，这四类基本上囊括了中国古代的所有书籍。* https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E9%83%A8%E5%88%86%E9%A1%9E%E6%B3%95 It is four categories of "books"  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-31. Score: 1

> what are the Chinese terms?

They are 儒，玄，史，文

* Classic (儒學)
* Daoist and Buddhist Masters, (玄學)
* History (史學)
* Belles Lettres (文學)

> I have trouble understanding the fourth category, since it seems not to include 小說。Would it be lyrics? Poetry? Say 樂府，輔鳥賦, non classic poetry like 楚辭？

Different time period had different major form of "Belles Lettres" for example: 唐詩, 宋詞. Mostly circulated among the upper class circle.

小說 was considered of lower class, not worthy of included in the 文學 category at the time the category was created.

reference: <http://r.ilong.cn/article/detail/id/34663.html>

> 立儒、玄、史、文四学为**官学**
> (established: 1.Classic 2.Metaphysics 3.History 4.Fine Writing, four categories of literature study as the **official categories of study**)

**Update:**

I consulted an expert, he wrote:

> "The first response was correct-- the four categories refer to 經 (classics), 史 (history), 子 (masters), and 集 (collection of letters). 經 refers to the main theory in Confucianism, and, in contrast, 子 refers to the challenges and defence from individual thinkers. 史 is the official history, and, in contrast, 集 is the supplementary materials, mostly poems that reflect the thinking of the society at the time.
> 儒玄史文 makes no sense in this context. It is a phrase rarely used in classical Chinese." - Mr.K

My argument was:

"經史子集 are four classifications of all classical books. It is still in use today; 儒玄史文 are categories of studies specifically refer to 南朝四学, and had became **obsolete**."

I just didn't know for sure that which one the question was referring to. And based on the time difference, it is most likely refer to 四部分類法-- 經史子集

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Seems like 經史子集 are categories of books; 儒玄史文 are categories of studies  
> **username_1**: fourth century is 301 - 400, even your quoted link marked 南朝宋文帝元嘉年間 which was 424 - 452; which was later than the "fourth century". secondly, it stated it's 來源 as "網摘"; isn't it doubtful?  
> **username_2**: Even your reference https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/四部分類法 are user submitted articles, we have to just take them as they are-"references" Here is another one. http://www.baike.com/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E5%AD%A6  *(2).指 南朝 宋 设立的[儒、玄(道)、史、文四学馆]。《宋书·隐逸传·雷次宗》：“ 元嘉 十五年，徵 次宗 至京师，开馆於 鸡笼山 ，聚徒教授，置生百馀人， 会稽 朱膺之 、 颍川 庾蔚之 ，并以[儒学]监总诸生。时国子学未立，上留心艺术，使 丹阳 尹 何尚之 立[玄学]，太子率更令 何承天 立[史学]，司徒参军 谢元 立[文学]。凡四学并建。” 南朝 梁 沉约 《为皇太子谢表》：“不闲三善之训，未习四学之仪。”*  
> **username_1**: before pickup any info, read the time first :) 元嘉十五年 was 438; which was later than fourth century.  
> **username_2**: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E9%83%A8%E5%88%86%E9%A1%9E%E6%B3%95 *而四部分類法的正式確立，即首次使用經史子集分類的是唐初官修的《隋書 經籍志》（李延壽，敬播等編著）.....此後歷代圖書目錄皆以經史子集為名*  

---

