The Thirteen Classics is a term for the group of thirteen classics of Confucian tradition that became the basis for the Imperial Examinations during the Song dynasty and have shaped much of East Asian culture and thought. It includes all of the Four Books and Five Classics but organizes them differently and includes the Classic of Filial Piety and Erya. They are, in approximate order of composition:

• Classic of Changes or I Ching (易經 Yìjīng)
• Book of Documents (書經 Shūjīng)
• Classic of Poetry (詩經 Shījīng)
• The Three Ritual Classics (三禮 Sānlǐ)
  • Rites of Zhou (周禮 Zhōulǐ)
  • Ceremonies and Rites (儀禮 Yílǐ)
  • Book of Rites (禮記 Lǐjì)
• The Three Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals
  • The Commentary of Zuo (左傳 Zuǒ Zhuàn)
  • The Commentary of Gongyang (公羊傳 Gōngyáng Zhuàn)
  • The Commentary of Guliang (穀梁傳 Gǔliáng Zhuàn)
• The Analects (論語 Lúnyǔ)
• Classic of Filial Piety (孝經 Xiàojīng)
• Erya (爾雅 Ěryǎ), a dictionary and encyclopedia
• Mencius (孟子 Mèngzǐ)