Fang Bao initiated the genre using what he had learned from his teacher Gui Youguang, creating the concept of Yi Fa.
Yi refers to the central ideas or arguments within an article and Fa to the various literary forms and artistry that are present in the theory of the Tongcheng school.
Significant originating writings of the school include Fang Bao's Random Notes from Prison and Yao Nai's Ascent to Mount Tai.
The school was fiercely attacked by the May 4th Movement for employment of the dead language and restriction to anything new and modern, thus accused of being "bad seed" to the people.
Other notable adherents to the Tongcheng school include Zhu Qi, Long Qirui, Chen Xueshou, Wu Jiabin, Deng Xianhe, Sun Dingchen, Lu Yitong and Shao Yichen.