seven-char-regulated-verse

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。