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本義為普遍的道理及記載普遍道理的文本，后泛指可作為典范的典籍。
“經”本義指織布機上的經線（縱線），因經線確定后才能穿插緯線而成為織品，故引申指恒常的準則，后人將蘊含恒常道理，可奉為思想、行為準則的典籍尊之為“經”，如“六經”、佛經、《道德經》、《黃帝內經》等；“典”本義是手捧簡冊（祭告神靈），引申指一切可作為標準、規(guī)范的簡冊、文獻、書籍，進而引申出“規(guī)范、典則、常道”等?！敖浀洹边B用，指蘊含普遍道理的典范性、權威性著作。而在中國古代，所謂“經典”，實際主要指儒家的“四書”“五經”。近代以降，該詞與英文classics對譯，指各領域具有典范性、權威性的經久不衰的作品，是人類精神文明的結晶。
Originally, this term referred to universal ways and the texts in which they are recorded. Later, it came to refer to written texts that set standards. Jing here describes the warp yarns on a loom. Because warp yarns have to be steady for the weft to go through and thus create a woven fabric, it has come to signify underlying norms. Subsequently, people refer to those texts that contain underlying rules and can serve as guidelines for thought and behavior as jing (classics). Examples of such classics include the Six Classics, Buddhist sutras, Laozi, and Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon of Medicine. Dian originally described the holding, with both hands, of a book of bound bamboo strips to worship the spirits. It subsequently came to include all bamboo strips, documents, and books that set standards and norms as well as such concepts as models, principles, or the constant way. Used together, those two Chinese characters refer to authoritative writings that articulate universal ways. In ancient China, this term mainly referred to the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism. In modern times, it has become the equivalent to the English word "classics," referring in general to authoritative writings with enduring influence in various disciplines, writings that have become a source of inspiration of human civilization.
引例 Citations：
◎經者，道之常也。（趙蕤《長短經·定名》）
經就是人們都應該遵循的普遍的道理。
Classics represent the universal way that all should follow. (Zhao Rui: On the Thoughts of Strategists)
◎經者，先圣之至言，仲尼之所發(fā)明，皆天人之極致，誠萬代不刊之典也。（《舊唐書》）
經是古代圣人講述的最普遍的道理，這些道理是孔子發(fā)現并闡明的，所揭示的都是天人之間最為精妙深遠的關系，誠然是萬世不能更改的普遍原理。
Classics are universal ways mentioned by ancient sages which are discovered and articulated by Confucius. They reveal the most profound relationships between people and nature and contain universal ways that have remained true throughout generations. (The Old Tang History)
◎自圣賢述作，是曰經典，句皆《韶》《夏》。（劉知幾《史通·敘事》）
自從有了圣賢的著述就有了“經典”，其中每句話都像舜時的《韶》樂和大禹時的《夏》樂一樣動人。
The writings and narrations of the sages have become classics. Every sentence in those classics is as moving as the "Shao" music in the reign of Shun or the "Xia" music in the reign of Yu. (Liu Zhiji: All About Historiography)
推薦：教育部 國家語委
供稿：北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社
責任編輯：錢耐安
