The theoretical program of the ancient prose movement is "Ming Dow", which emphasizes the viewpoint of "unification, and Taoism precedes literature". The main purpose of the movement is to reverse the formalism and decadence in the literary world at that time, so that the trend of literary atmosphere can reflect reality and show true feelings. The ancient prose movement in Tang and Song Dynasties played a milestone role in the development of ancient cultural prose in China.
Apart from Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan, Ouyang Xiu, Ceng Gong, Wang Anshi, Su Xun, Su Shi and Su Zhe were all famous representatives in the ancient prose movement in Tang and Song Dynasties. These six people, Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan, are also known as the "Eight Masters in Tang and Song Dynasties". This title is about their important contributions to prose creation.
The purpose of this ancient prose movement is to reform the style of writing in form. Since the Northern and Southern Dynasties, parallel prose has gradually become popular in the literary world. Although there are some excellent works, most of them are in the form of melody, antithesis, rhetoric and allusions, and their contents are empty and flashy, which is not suitable for expressing ideas and reflecting reality. Parallel prose has also become an obstacle to the development of literature. Therefore, the transformation of ancient prose movement to parallel prose and prose not only meets the needs of prose development, but also brings a fresh wind to prose creation in Tang Dynasty, and then pushes it to a new peak.
In essence, the reason why Liu Zongyuan and Han Yu advocated the ancient prose movement was to carry forward the Confucian spirit. This stems from their strong desire for ZTE and the requirement of reforming reality. Han Yu's important proposition is to abandon the Confucian classics in the late Western Han Dynasty, re-establish the Confucian orthodoxy and restore the Confucian way. So he pretended to be the defender and successor of Confucius and Mencius. Liu Zongyuan is both a Confucian theorist, but he is quite different from Han Yu. He paid more attention to Confucianism, which originated from "Sui and Zhao School", regardless of fame and fortune, and saved troubled times with appropriate methods. Lack of interest in "orthodoxy" of Confucius and Mencius.