朱熹的“文从道中流出”与刘勰的“原道”观，都强调道是文的源头，这是本体论的文学观。但二者之间却存在根本区别，刘勰从自己的原道观出发，得出重文的看法；朱熹从自己的原道观出发，得出轻文甚至是驱文的看法。刘勰的道论中内含着形象的丰富性，启发他重文；朱熹的道论中内含着抽象的单一性，促使他轻文。文学的道本体论只有与文学的自体论相结合，才会真正地重视文学的审美性。

Both ZHU Xi’s idea of “literature originating from the Dao” and LIU Xie’s idea of “literature rooted in the Dao” understand literature ontologically, claiming that the Dao is the source of literature. However, they are distinguished from each other. LIU argues for the significance of literature since for him the Dao associates with abundant symbols. On the contrast, ZHU ignores and even rejects literature when he considers that the Dao implies abstract simplicity. The aesthetic essence of literature cannot be really valued until the ontology of the Dao is combined with the autonomy of literature.