《文赋》是中国最早系统探讨文学创作问题的论著；《二十四诗品》是探讨诗歌创作，特别是诗歌美学风格的理论著作。
西晋著名文学家陆机创作的《文赋》是中国最早系统探讨文学创作问题的论著，全文以赋的形式写成。
晚唐诗人司空图创作的《二十四诗品》是探讨诗歌创作，特别是诗歌美学风格的理论著作。
文赋
【原文】余每观才士之所作，窃有以得其用心。夫其放言遣辞，良多变矣，妍蚩好恶，可得而言。每自属文，尤见其情，恒患意不称物，文不逮意。盖非知之难，能之难也。故作《文赋》以述先士之盛藻，因论作文之利害所由，他【今译】我每次看到有才之士的作品，私自以为懂得了他们写作的用心。至于遣词造句，确实是变化多端，而文章的美丑好坏，还是可以用言语表达出来。我自己每次作文，尤其能体会到其中的实情，总是担忧表达出来的意思与要表现的事物不能相称，写出来的文辞不能表现构思时的立意，大概困难不在于懂得事物的情理，而在于怎样付诸实践啊。所以我写下这篇《文赋》，用来介绍前人的华彩词章，借此论述创作作品成败的缘起。
When studying the work of the masters,I watch the working of their minds.Surely, facility with language and the charging of the word with energy are effects that can be achieved by various means.Still, the beautiful can be distinguished from the common,the good from the mediocre.Only through writing and then revising and revising may one gain the necessary insight.We worry whether our ideas may fall short of their subjects,whether form and content rhyme.This may be easy to know,but it is difficult to put into practice.
【原文】日殆可谓曲尽其妙。至于操斧伐柯，虽取则不远，若夫随手之变，良难以辞逮，盖所能言者，具于此云。【今译】以后或者可以说是曲尽了其中的奥妙。至于拿着斧子去砍伐枝条，虽然学习取法的对象并不遥远，而下笔时的千变万化，实在很难用言语完全表达出来，大致上我所能够论述的，都在这篇文章里了
I have composed this rhymed prose on the art of writing to introduce past masterpieces as models for an examination of the good and the bad in writing.Perhaps it will one day be said that I have written something of substance,something useful,that I have entered the mystery.When cutting an axe handle with an axe,surely the model is at hand.Each writer finds a new entrance into the mystery,and it is difficult to explain.Nonetheless, I have set down my thinking as clearly as I can.
【原文】伫中区以玄览，颐情志于典坟。遵四时以叹逝，瞻万物而思纷。悲落叶于劲秋，喜柔条于芳春，心懔懔以怀霜，志眇眇而临云。咏世德之骏烈，【今译】长久地静立在天地之间观览万物，从《三坟》、《五典》等典籍中汲取陶冶情志的营养。循着四季的更迭而感叹往事的流逝，观看万物的盛衰而思虑纷纭。深秋时节，落叶飘零，因而悲伤；初春时节，枝条吐绿，因而欢喜。心生敬畏，如秋霜之高洁；志气高远，如浮云之飘逸。吟咏祖上德行。
The poet stands at the center of a universe,contemplating the enigma,drawing sustenance from masterpieces of the past.Studying the four seasons as they pass,we sigh;seeing the inner-connectedness of things,we learn the innumerable ways of the world.We mourn leaves torn away by the cruel hands of autumn;we honor every tender bud of spring.Autumn frost sends a shudder through the heart;summer clouds can make the spirit soar.
【原文】诵先民之清芬。游文章之林府，嘉丽藻之彬彬。慨投篇而援笔，聊宣之乎斯文。【今译】的伟大显耀，歌颂先人道德的清美芬芳。在文章的林海中遨游，称赞那华丽辞章的文质彬彬。慨然放下前人的作品，姑且在文章中表达见解。
Learn to recite the classics;sing in the clear virtue of ancient masters.Explore the treasures of the classics where form and content are born.Thus moved, I lay aside my books and take writing brush in hand to compose this poem.
【原文】其始也，皆收视反听，耽思傍讯，精骛八极，心游万仞。其致也，情曈昽而弥鲜，物昭晰而互进。倾群言之沥液，漱六艺之芳润。浮天渊以安流，濯下泉而潜浸。于是沉辞怫悦，若游鱼衔钩，而出重渊之深；浮藻联翩，若【今译】写作开始的时候，都要目不旁视，耳不旁听，静静地思考，广泛地搜寻。精神驰骋在八极之上，思想跳跃于万仞之巅。思虑达到极致的时候，情思明彻而更加鲜活，物象清晰互相映衬。吸收往哲教诲的精华，涵咏古代经典的要义。上浮天渊而平静地流动，深入九泉而慢慢地浸润。于是深沉的文辞像游动的鱼儿咬住钓钩，从深潭中艰难而出；联翩的词藻像飞
Beginning. Eyes closed, we listen to inner music,lost in thought and question:our spirits ride to the eight corners of the universe,mind soaring a thousand miles away;only then may the inner voice grow clear as objects become numinous.We pour forth the essence of words,savoring their sweetness.It is like being adrift in a heavenly lake or diving to the depths of seas.We bring up living words like fishes hooked in their gills,leaping from the deep.
【原文】翰鸟缨缴，而坠曾云之峻。收百世之阙文，采千载之遗韵。谢朝华于已披，启夕秀于未振。观古今于须臾，抚四海于一瞬。【今译】翔的鸟儿中了箭矢，自云层中次第坠落。泛览百世以来缺失的文字，采摘千载而下遗漏的诗篇。拒用前人已经使用的陈词，采摘前人没有发掘的锦句。在片刻之间通观古往今来，在眨眼之际遍览四海万方。
Luminous words are brought down like a bird on an arrow string shot from passing clouds.We gather words and images from those unused by previous generations.Our melodies have remained unplayed for a thousand years.The morning blossoms bloom;soon, night buds will unfold.Past and present commingle:Eternity in the single blink of an eye!
【原文】然后选义按部，考辞就班。抱景者咸叩，怀响者毕弹。或因枝以振叶，或沿波而讨源。或本隐以之显，或求易而得难。或虎变而兽扰，或龙见而鸟澜。或妥帖而易施，或岨峿而不安。罄澄心以凝思，眇众虑而为言。笼【今译】然后拟定大意，构思布局，考究语辞，安排次序。有影之物都要描绘其形象，有声之物一定摹拟其声响。有时候像就着树枝而振响树叶，有时候像沿着水波而追溯水源。有时候本来隐晦的事物却很容易使之明白显豁，有时候追求简易却难以下笔。有时候像猛虎作色而百兽骚动，有时候像祥龙现身而群鸟惊飞。有时候妥当帖切而易于措手，有时候文理晦涩
Ordering thoughts and ideas,we begin to choose our words.Each choice is made with care,fit with a sense of proportion.Shadowy thoughts are brought into the light of reason;echoes are traced to their sources.It is like following a branch to find the trembling leaf,like following a stream to find the spring.The poet brings light into great darkness,even if that means the simple must become difficult or the difficult easy.Hence, the tiger may silence other beasts,the dragon frighten away birds in terrifying waves.Writing, the traveling is sometimes level and easy,sometimes rocky and steep.
【原文】天地于形内，挫万物于笔端。始踯躅于燥吻，终流离于濡翰。理扶质以立干，文垂条而结繁。信情貌之不差，故每变而在颜。思涉乐其必笑，方言哀而已叹。或操觚以率尔，或含毫而邈然。【今译】而难于动笔。竭力安定心神而静心思考，忽视庞杂的考虑而遣词成文。把天地全囊括在胸中，使万物都凝聚于笔端。开始时常常犹豫不定，语句枯燥，到最后总能文思泉涌，下笔淋漓。用理统率大体作为文章的主干，文辞像垂下的枝条叶茂花繁。真正做到内在情感与外在文辞不差分毫，所以每有变化，都会在文辞上有所表现。思虑涉及欢乐，文辞上必然表现出欢快，刚说及哀伤，文辞上已经有所叹惋。有时候拿起木简就能顺利写出，有时候含着笔尖而思路茫然。
Calm the hearts dark waters;collect from deep thoughts the proper names for things.Heaven and earth are trapped in visible form:all things emerge from within the writing brush.At first, the brush parches our lips, but soon it grows moist from dipping.Truth is the tree trunk;style makes beautiful foliage.Emotion and reason are not two:every shift in feeling must be read.Finding true joy, find laughter;in sorrow, identify each sigh.Sometimes the words come freely;sometimes we sit in silence,gnawing on a brush.
……
序言
修养
构思
遣辞
寄兴
风格
音律
定去留
立警策
戒雷同
兼平奇
唱而靡应
应而不和
和而不悲
悲而不雅
雅而不艳
文风
贤文
灵感
作用
