The word "经典" is formed through a conceptual fusion where "经" (jīng), originally meaning the warp threads in weaving and by extension the enduring, foundational texts or principles that guide a tradition, combines with "典" (diǎn), meaning a standard, rule, or model text of great authority. Together, they create a compound whose meaning transcends a simple sum; it evokes the idea of a canonical work or set of principles that are both foundational ("经") and authoritatively exemplary ("典"), thus representing the timeless, authoritative standards and revered texts of a culture.