seven-char-regulated-verse git:20260424.d50cf5aA

Immutable. This exact content never changes and is served at /api/v1/blob/f2127a0a602ec73d.

---
name: seven-char-regulated-verse
description: Rules and structure of Chinese seven-character regulated verse (七言律诗), including tonal patterns, parallelism, and rhyme schemes.
---

# Seven-Character Regulated Verse (七言律诗)

## Overview
The seven-character regulated verse (七言律诗) is one of the most prestigious forms in classical Chinese poetry. It consists of 8 lines, each containing exactly 7 characters.

## Structural Rules

### 1. Line Count and Character Count
- Exactly **8 lines** (八句)
- Each line has exactly **7 characters** (七言)

### 2. Rhyme Scheme (押韵)
- Lines **2, 4, 6, 8** must rhyme (韵脚) — these are the even-numbered lines.
- Line **1** may optionally rhyme as well (首句入韵).
- The rhyme is based on the final character of each line.
- All rhyming characters must share the same rhyme group (韵部).
- Traditionally uses 平声韵 (level tone rhyme).

### 3. Tonal Patterns (平仄格律)
The four tones of modern Mandarin:
- **平声 (level tone)**: 1st tone (阴平) and 2nd tone (阳平)
- **仄声 (oblique tone)**: 3rd tone (上声) and 4th tone (去声)

Common tonal pattern (仄起平收, first line rhyming):
```
仄仄平平仄仄平 (line 1, rhymes)
平平仄仄仄平平 (line 2, rhymes)
平平仄仄平平仄 (line 3)
仄仄平平仄仄平 (line 4, rhymes)
仄仄平平平仄仄 (line 5)
平平仄仄仄平平 (line 6, rhymes)
平平仄仄平平仄 (line 7)
仄仄平平仄仄平 (line 8, rhymes)
```

Key rule: "一三五不论，二四六分明" — positions 1, 3, 5 are flexible; positions 2, 4, 6 must follow the pattern strictly.

### 4. Parallelism (对仗)
- The **middle two couplets** (lines 3-4, lines 5-6) must use parallelism.
- Parallelism means: matching parts of speech, matching semantic categories, and contrasting tones.
- The first couplet (lines 1-2) and last couplet (lines 7-8) do not require parallelism.

### 5. Structure by Couplet
- **首联 (Opening couplet, lines 1-2)**: Introduces the theme, sets the scene.
- **颔联 (Chin couplet, lines 3-4)**: Develops the theme; requires parallelism.
- **颈联 (Neck couplet, lines 5-6)**: Deepens or turns the theme; requires parallelism.
- **尾联 (Closing couplet, lines 7-8)**: Concludes, expresses emotion or aspiration.

## Example: Du Fu's "登高"
```
风急天高猿啸哀，
渚清沙白鸟飞回。
无边落木萧萧下，
不尽长江滚滚来。
万里悲秋常作客，
百年多病独登台。
艰难苦恨繁霜鬓，
潦倒新停浊酒杯。
```