This term means that the description and language used in poetry should be direct and straight forward rather than implied. Here, zhi (致) means reaching to something. The origin of this term may be traced to the concept of direct search first proposed by Zhong Rong (?-518?) of the Southern Dynasties. He disapproved of the excessive use of allegories in some poems, maintaining that a poem could only be written when a poet was inspired by external objects. Whether describing scenery or expressing his thoughts, the poet should present his sentiments with vivid writing while avoiding the use of rhetoric. Yin Fan, a Tang Dynasty critic of poetry who followed Zhong Rong’s view, put forward the term “direct expression,” believing that one should use simple, clear and vivid language to describe both scenery and his sentiment.

An examination of well-known poetic works of both the past and the present shows that most of such poems hardly quote lines of classic poetry or literary allusions. Rather, they are directly inspired by the personal experiences of poets. (Zhong Rong: The Critique of Poetry)

The poems of Cao Cao and Liu Zhen are direct rather than implied in style, and these two poets cared little about tonal harmony. (Yin Fan: Preface to A Collection of Poems by Distinguished Poets)