Sibu classification () is a traditional Chinese classification system for categorising texts.
History.
By the Han dynasty, the first attempt to categorise Chinese classics was done by Liu Xiang (; 77 BCE – 6 CE) and his son Liu Xin (; 46 BCE – 23 CE) into 6 distinct categories with a general catalogue making it a 7-part system. ().
This classification system included the following categories,
During the Jin dynasty, Xun Xu (; 221 – 289) complied Zhongjing Xinbu () based on a previous work, which originally had six categories but was now condensed into four.
These categories were reminiscent of the current categories of the Sibu classification. These categories were later redefined by Li Chong () by moving historical works into Yi () and philosophical writings into Bing ().
The Sibu classification was formally established by the Tang dynasty, occurring in the work, Suishu·Jingjizhi (). The work adopted names for the four categories, , , , and . This system was in used up to the Qing dynasty and influenced classification methods in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.