chinese-classical-poetry git:20260424.d50cf5aA

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---
name: chinese-classical-poetry
description: How to compose a seven-character regulated verse (七言律诗) in Classical Chinese, including tonal patterns, rhyme schemes, and structural requirements.
---

# Seven-Character Regulated Verse (七言律诗)

## Overview

A 七言律诗 (qīyán lǜshī) is a classical Chinese poetic form with strict structural, tonal, and rhyme rules. It consists of **8 lines**, each containing **exactly 7 Chinese characters**.

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## Structure

| Lines | Name       | Requirement                                |
|-------|------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 1–2   | 首联 (shǒulián) | Opening couplet; sets the scene/theme      |
| 3–4   | 颔联 (hànlián)  | Second couplet; **must be parallel (对仗)** |
| 5–6   | 颈联 (jǐnglián) | Third couplet; **must be parallel (对仗)**  |
| 7–8   | 尾联 (wěilián)  | Closing couplet; conveys emotion or conclusion |

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## Rhyme Scheme

- Lines **2, 4, 6, 8** must rhyme (end on the same rhyme group).
- Line **1** may optionally rhyme with the even lines.
- All rhyming characters must be **平声** (level tone = tones 1 and 2 in Mandarin).
- For **modern Mandarin rhyming**, characters sharing the same final vowel cluster (韵母) are considered rhyming.
  - Example rhyme groups: -ang (长/肠/方/凉/光), -ing (明/清/声/情), -an (安/天/年/眠)

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## Tonal Pattern (平仄)

Two primary patterns (starting with 仄 or 平). For lines ending in rhyme (平声):

**Pattern A** (仄起首句入韵):
```
Line 1: 仄仄平平仄仄平 (rhymes)
Line 2: 平平仄仄仄平平 (rhymes)
Line 3: 平平仄仄平平仄
Line 4: 仄仄平平仄仄平 (rhymes)
Line 5: 仄仄平平平仄仄
Line 6: 平平仄仄仄平平 (rhymes)
Line 7: 平平仄仄平平仄
Line 8: 仄仄平平仄仄平 (rhymes)
```

Key rule: 平 = tones 1 & 2; 仄 = tones 3 & 4.

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## Parallelism Requirements (对仗)

Lines 3–4 and 5–6 must form syntactic parallels:
- Nouns match nouns, verbs match verbs
- Same grammatical position, contrasting or complementary meaning
- Typical word categories: place/nature nouns, action verbs, descriptors

**Example**:
```
田园荒废无人种，(田园 / 荒废 / 无人种)
骨肉分离各一方。(骨肉 / 分离 / 各一方)
```

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## Composition Tips for War/Peace Themes

- **首联**: Establish the wartime setting with sensory imagery (drums, smoke, banners)
- **颔联**: Describe civilian suffering in parallel couplet (abandoned fields, separated families)
- **颈联**: Deepen emotion — isolated figures, silence, longing (geese as messengers, lone lamps)
- **尾联**: Pivot to hope — express longing for peace, transforming weapons to tools

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## File Format

When saving a poem to a `.txt` file:
```
<Title>
<Line 1>
<Line 2>
<Line 3>
<Line 4>
<Line 5>
<Line 6>
<Line 7>
<Line 8>
```

Title on line 1, followed by exactly 8 lines of verse (no blank lines between unless specified).