本指有智慧情感的人，引申指由人类心灵智慧所创的文章及各种器物。无论是文章还是器物，它们都自然打上了人类精神创造的烙印，并带有外在的文采或纹饰。南朝刘勰在《文心雕龙·原道》中指出，天地万物无不具有文德，即外在的形式美，人类具有追求外在形式之美的天性，这是文学艺术作品以及文章形式之美得以产生的心理基础。
This term originally referred to intelligent and noble-minded human beings and later came to also cover the writings and articles created by them. These writings and articles were seen as embodying human vision, with literary grace or fine adornment. Liu Xie of the Southern Dynasties, author of The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, pointed out in the "Origin of Dao" section of that book the artistic grace, namely, the outward beauty, exists in all things in the world. Humans are naturally inclined to pursue outward beauty. This is the psychological basis for the creation of beauty in literary and artistic works as well as literary styles.
引例 Citations：
◎刚柔交错，天文也。文明以止，人文也。（《周易·彖上》）
刚柔相互错杂，是天的法则。礼仪昌明有所节制，是人伦的法则。
It is a law of heaven that the hard and the soft interweave; it is a rule of humans that they should observe the rites and conduct themselves with restraint. (The Book of Changes)
◎言之无文，行而不远。（《左传·襄公二十五年》）
语言如果缺乏文采和技巧，就不可能流传广泛久远。
Lackluster wording never travels far. (Zuo's Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals)
推荐：教育部 国家语委
供稿：北京外国语大学 外语教学与研究出版社
责任编辑：刘怿莎
