First of all, scholars' study of stereotyped writing was influenced by Confucian ethics. Immersed in the Four Books and Five Classics, they succumbed to the Confucian theory of "self-cultivation, governing the country and calming the world" and were regarded as the code of words and deeds in life. The Ming Dynasty is not only the golden age of stereotyped writing, but also the most brilliant and tragic page in the history of intellectuals. The Ming dynasty was famous for its harsh treatment of its subjects, but the literati kept on forging ahead until their death. The so-called people who were born on the right path, not to mention Fang Xiaoru, Yu Qian and Hai Rui, all won their fame with integrity. It was the critical illness and righteous indignation of Wen, Huang Daozhou, Jin Sheng, Yang and others in the late Ming Dynasty that made them not only famous for their eight-part essays. After Manchu entered the Central Plains, they were all gentle, regardless of their second surname. Gui Zhuang lived in wild clothes for life, Huang lived in seclusion, Fang Yizhi cut his hair and became a monk, and there were countless intellectuals with national integrity. The appearance of these magnificent heroes is undeniable, and they all have the influence and function of Confucian classics.

Secondly, the writing theory and skills of eight-part essay can be used for reference by future generations. Fang Bao's "Four Books" said: "If you want to understand things clearly, you must trace back to the Six Classics and learn the theory of Confucianism in Song and Yuan Dynasties. If you want to speak properly, you must take it from the books of three dynasties and two Han dynasties. If you want to prosper, you must sprinkle the heart of benevolence and righteousness, and dive into the ancient prose of Zhou, Qin, Sheng, Tang and Song. " During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, all the essays have been searched up and down, and their works have reached the realm of reason, rhetoric and qi. This theory and practice are instructive to all literary creation. Tang Xianzu, Xu Hongzu, Wu Cheng'en and Cao Xueqin all took part in the imperial examinations. We can't say that when they wrote The Peony Pavilion, Xu Xiake's Travels, The Journey to the West and A Dream of Red Mansions, they didn't benefit from the experienced eight-part essay at all. Wu wrote in the eleventh chapter of The Scholars: "Eight-part essay is well done. No matter what you want to do, you must write poems to it. This is a whip and a scar, a slap in the face and a palm of blood." Indeed, if the author is not from the old camp, how can he write such a penetrating work? Zhu Guangqian also had this experience. From the eight-part essay, he saw the author's "ingenuity" (see the article "How to learn Chinese from me").

Third, the eight-part essay provides a model for future generations. Liu Zhiji's Story of the Stone is the essence of the article: "Make a word without repetition." Eight-part essay has reached its limit in this respect. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were strict restrictions on the number of words in stereotyped writing, which made people have to use limited words to explain the meaning of the article. According to legend, Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming emperor, once accepted the memorial of Confucianism. After reading it for a long time, he didn't get to the point either. He hated it so much that he even wanted to put a scepter on him. Mao Zedong also proposed in "Opposing stereotyped Party writing" that "we should study how to write short articles". Stereotyped experience is really a panacea for long and empty articles. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, long articles were extremely rare; Even lyrical narration is exquisite. It is no accident that "essays" flourished in the Ming Dynasty.

Thirdly, stereotyped writing contributed to the maturity and development of some later styles, such as couplets. According to legend, Meng Chang's Spring Festival couplets in the Five Dynasties are just one of the five-character modern poems. The maturity of couplets is after the appearance of eight-part essay. Its couplets with different lengths and sentence patterns create a couplet system. So stereotyped writing prevailed in Ming and Qing dynasties, and couplets also made great progress. Especially in the Qing dynasty, it was even more gloomy and colorful, and many famous works were produced. Like Zeng Guofan and Zuo, although they are engaged in politics and military affairs in the afternoon, they are still veterans of China Wheel. Moreover, the so-called "poetry clock" in the Qing Dynasty originated from its name, so I won't say it here.

The reason why stereotyped writing was subjected to such a long and universal crusade was mainly due to the propaganda of Confucianism, Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism, as well as the accumulated disadvantages and grievances caused by the long history of imperial examinations. The former has the color of the times, regardless of it; As far as the latter is concerned, turning to history, what kind of examination methods are not a lot of problems in the future? Gu's "Records of the Day Wencheng" said: "In the Tang Dynasty, the literati fu was the most redundant. In the Song Dynasty, the disadvantages of selecting scholars and discussing policies were no less than others. Scholars in the Ming Dynasty took justice, which was unwritten, more than the previous generation. " Just like today's college entrance examination, isn't it shrouded in the shadow of history? It can be seen that stereotyped writing in the imperial examination is a common problem in the examination, not a problem it brings from the mother's stomach.

Excellent stereotyped writing example

Wang Ao's "People's Feelings, that is, Shortcomings" (Analects of Confucius, Yan Yuan), the people are rich in the bottom, and the monarch is rich in the top. If you hide your wealth among the people and the people are rich, how can you be poor alone? If there is a deep performance of the unity of the monarch and the people, it will tell the public. Gai yue: the public and the fu are not used enough; If you want to make the best use of everything, how about starting with the people? If you can be frank and thorough, you can always save your lover's heart. If you don't levy for self-support, the people will want it and you won't be trapped in asking for it. Everyone's wealth is not accumulated enough. In a short period of time, many a mickle makes a mickle, so-called snobbery, carefree. Between the fields, like a beam, the so-called people who keep in good health have no regrets. Since the people are enough, why are they still poor? I know that those who hide all their sorrows have what they have, they don't have to go back to the state treasury, and then they will be my wealth. Those stored in the fields will be used by the monarch, and there is no need to store them, and then they will be mine. Why bother asking for it when it's inexhaustible? If you are inexhaustible, why worry about something and not be prepared? Sacrifice is enough; The jade basket is enough to pay for the recruitment. If the loan is insufficient, the people will give it themselves. What is the difference? The restaurant is strong enough to meet the needs of guests; The chariots and horses are equipped enough for conquering, but if they are insufficient, the people will be miserable. What is the difference? Whew! Thorough laws are made for the people, but the country is enough. Because of this, why give it wealth?