Literary Forms · LT100

Classical Poetry

Orthodox classical Chinese poetry spanning archaic ballads to Tang regulated verse.

175works

9sub-forms

13dynasties

Sub-forms

LT101Four-Character VerseAncient four-character metric verse of the Western and Eastern Zhou eras.32 works · Xia—Zhou
  • Classic of Poetry · Guan Ju (Ospreys Cry)
  • Classic of Poetry · Jian Jia (Reeds and Rushes)
  • Classic of Poetry · Tao Yao (The Peach Tree in Bloom)
LT102Chu ElegiesRomantic Southern Chu poetic elegies characterized by emotional intensity and mythic imagery.21 works · Zhou—Tang
  • Songs of Chu · Li Sao (On Encountering Sorrow)
  • Songs of Chu · She Jiang (Crossing the River)
  • Songs of Chu · Guo Shang (Hymn to the Fallen)
LT103Yuefu BalladsNarrative folk ballads and musical court songs capturing vivid human experiences.22 works · Han—Tang
  • A Short Song
  • Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute · Section 1
  • Song of White Hair
LT104Old-Style SongsFlexible-meter ancient verse and sweeping lyrical song ballads.40 works · Han—Qing
  • Song of Everlasting Regret
  • The Bailiff at Shihao
  • Song of Yuanyuan
LT105Regulated QuatrainsConcise four-line poems adhering to rigorous tonal meter and evocative imagery.37 works · Tang—Qing
  • Thoughts in the Quiet Night
  • Summer Quatrain (Living as a Hero)
  • Clear and Even Melody · Part 1 (Clouds Recall Her Raiment)
LT106Regulated OctavesEight-line regulated verse with strict tonal patterns and antithetical middle couplets.21 works · Tang—Qing
  • Spring View
  • Passing Lingdingyang
  • Farewell to Vice-Magistrate Du on His Posting to Shu
LT107Extended Regulated VerseExtended regulated poems featuring extended sequences of antithetical couplets.Works in preparation
LT108Bamboo-Branch SongsLively vernacular seven-character poems inspired by local regional folk songs.1 works · Ming
  • West Lake Bamboo Branch Lyrics
LT109Palindrome VersePalindromic and circular poetry that reads smoothly forwards and backwards.1 works · Jin
  • Preface and Palindrome Tapestry Poem

Sub-forms by dynasty

Where each sub-form's works fall across the fifteen dynasties; click an ink dot to open that sub-form at that dynasty.

Classical Poetry · Sub-forms by dynasty
XiaShangZhouQinHanThree KingdomsJinNorthern and SouthernSuiTangTen KingdomsSongYuanMingQing
Four-Character Verse32
Chu Elegies21
Yuefu Ballads22
Old-Style Songs40
Regulated Quatrains37
Regulated Octaves21
Bamboo-Branch Songs1
Palindrome Verse1
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