This talk is a study of the chapter of the Wenxin diaolong entitled "Shilei" 事類. After a general introduction on the conception and the importation of "analogy by means of reference", it highlights the importance of knowledge in Liu Xie's discourse (which disregards the process of training in this chapter). It also shows that this chapter is particularly prescriptive (and self-performative) and sets standards which are mainly rooted in the concepts of authenticity and scholarship.