''Lüshi'' () refers to a specific form of
Classical Chinese poetry
Classical Chinese poetry is traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese and typified by certain traditional forms, or modes; traditional genres; and connections with particular historical periods, such as the poetry of the Tang dyn ...
verse form. One of the most important poetry forms of classical Chinese poetry, the ''lüshi'' refers to an eight-line
regulated verse Regulated verse – also known as Jintishi () – is a development within Classical Chinese poetry of the ''shi (poetry), shi'' main formal type. Regulated verse is one of the most important of all Classical Chinese poetry types. Although often rega ...
form with lines made up of five, six, or seven characters; thus:
*Five-character eight-line regulated verse (''wulü''): a form of regulated verse with eight lines of five characters each.
*Six-character eight-line regulated verse is relatively rare.
*Seven-character eight-line regulated verse (''qilü''): a form of regulated verse with eight lines of seven characters each.
*Extended forms (''
pailü
''Pailü'' () is one of the main forms of Classical Chinese poetry. It is a style of regulated verse (''jintishi''): the rules and regulations of the ''pailü'' allow for a poem composed of an unlimited series of linked couplets. The ''pailü'' fo ...
''): expansion of the forms listed above with more than eight lines.
All ''lüshi'' forms are rhymed on the even lines, with one rhyme being used throughout the poem. Also, and definitionally, the tonal profile of the poem is controlled (that is, "regulated").
Historical development
Although the idea of regulating the tonal pattern of poetry can be traced back to
Shen Yue
Shen Yue (; 441–1 May 513), courtesy name Xiuwen (休文), was a Chinese historian, music theorist, poet, and politician born in Huzhou, Zhejiang. He served emperors under the Liu Song Dynasty, the Southern Qi Dynasty (see Yongming poetry), ...
, the ''lüshi'' form did not reach its final codification until the seventh century.
[Watson, 111]
Well-known examples
Well-known examples of the form include the
Tang poet
Tang or TANG most often refers to:
* Tang dynasty
* Tang (drink mix)
Tang or TANG may also refer to:
Chinese states and dynasties
* Jin (Chinese state) (11th century – 376 BC), a state during the Spring and Autumn period, called Tang (唐) ...
Li Bai
Li Bai (, 701–762), also pronounced as Li Bo, courtesy name Taibai (), was a Chinese poet, acclaimed from his own time to the present as a brilliant and romantic figure who took traditional poetic forms to new heights. He and his friend Du F ...
's "Seeing Off a Friend" (送友人) and "On Climbing in Nanjing to the Terrace of Phoenixes" (登金陵鳳凰臺).
See also
*
Classical Chinese poetry forms
Classical Chinese poetry forms are poetry forms or modes which typify the traditional Chinese poems written in Literary Chinese or Classical Chinese. Classical Chinese poetry has various characteristic forms, some attested to as early as the p ...
* ''
Jueju
''Jueju'' (), or Chinese quatrain, is a type of '' jintishi'' ("modern form poetry") that grew popular among Chinese poets in the Tang Dynasty (618–907), although traceable to earlier origins. ''Jueju'' poems are always quatrains; or, more s ...
''
*
Regulated verse Regulated verse – also known as Jintishi () – is a development within Classical Chinese poetry of the ''shi (poetry), shi'' main formal type. Regulated verse is one of the most important of all Classical Chinese poetry types. Although often rega ...
References
Citations
Sources
* Frankel, Hans H. (1978). ''The Flowering Plum and the Palace Lady''. (New Haven and London: Yale University Press)
* Watson, Burton (1971). ''CHINESE LYRICISM: Shih Poetry from the Second to the Twelfth Century''. (New York: Columbia University Press).
* Yip, Wai-lim (1997). ''Chinese Poetry: An Anthology of Major Modes and Genres ''. (Durham and London: Duke University Press).
Chinese poetry forms
{{Poetry-stub