| name | regulated-verse-structure |
| description | Comprehensive guide to seven-character regulated verse (七言律诗) format, structure, and tone patterns. Use this skill whenever composing classical Chinese regulated verse, especially when strict adherence to tonal patterns, line structure, and formal requirements is critical. |
Seven-Character Regulated Verse (七言律诗) Structure
Overview
A seven-character regulated verse (七言律诗, qīyán lǜshī) is one of the most formal and prestigious forms of classical Chinese poetry. It consists of exactly 8 lines, with each line containing exactly 7 characters. Strict tonal patterns and rhyming schemes must be followed.
Basic Requirements
Line Structure
- Total lines: 8 lines
- Characters per line: Exactly 7 characters
- Format: Title on first line, then 8 lines of verse
Tone Pattern (平仄 píng zè)
The tonal pattern must alternate between two types:
- 平 (píng): Level tone (typically tones 1st and 2nd in Mandarin)
- 仄 (zè): Oblique tones (typically tones 3rd and 4th in Mandarin)
Standard Regulated Verse Tone Pattern
The most common pattern for regulated verse is:
Pattern A (Starting with 平 level):
Line 1: 平 平 仄 仄 平 平 仄
Line 2: 仄 仄 平 平 仄 仄 平
Line 3: 仄 仄 平 平 仄 仄 平
Line 4: 平 平 仄 仄 平 平 仄
Line 5: 平 平 仄 仄 平 平 仄
Line 6: 仄 仄 平 平 仄 仄 平
Line 7: 仄 仄 平 平 仄 仄 平
Line 8: 平 平 仄 仄 平 平 仄
Pattern B (Starting with 仄 oblique):
Line 1: 仄 仄 平 平 仄 仄 平
Line 2: 平 平 仄 仄 平 平 仄
Line 3: 平 平 仄 仄 平 平 仄
Line 4: 仄 仄 平 平 仄 仄 平
Line 5: 仄 仄 平 平 仄 仄 平
Line 6: 平 平 仄 仄 平 平 仄
Line 7: 平 平 仄 仄 平 平 仄
Line 8: 仄 仄 平 平 仄 仄 平
Rhyme Scheme
- Rhyme positions: Lines 2, 4, 6, and 8 must rhyme (typically based on modern Mandarin pronunciation)
- Rhyming pattern: In regulated verse, lines end with characters that share the same rhyme sound
- Modern Mandarin rhyming: Use the final sound of the last character in each rhyming line
Couplets Structure
Regulated verse is organized into 4 couplets (each couplet = 2 lines):
- 首联 (Shǒu lián) - Opening couplet: Lines 1-2
- 颔联 (Hàn lián) - Neck couplet: Lines 3-4
- 颈联 (Jǐng lián) - Waist couplet: Lines 5-6
- 尾联 (Wěi lián) - Closing couplet: Lines 7-8
Composition Strategy
Theme Development
- Lines 1-2: Introduce the theme and set the scene
- Lines 3-4: Develop the theme with specific imagery
- Lines 5-6: Deepen emotional expression and meaning
- Lines 7-8: Conclude with resolution or reflection
Important Principles
- Strict tonal adherence: Every character's tone must match the pattern
- No character repetition: Avoid repeating the same character in the verse
- Parallel structure: Lines 3-4 and lines 5-6 should show some parallelism in meaning and structure
- Avoid awkward phrasing: Despite strict requirements, the language should flow naturally
Verification Checklist
Before finalizing:
- ✓ Exactly 8 lines
- ✓ Exactly 7 characters per line
- ✓ Tonal pattern matches one of the standard patterns
- ✓ Lines 2, 4, 6, 8 rhyme (same final sound)
- ✓ No character repetition throughout the poem
- ✓ Language is coherent and meaningful
- ✓ Theme is clear and well-developed across all 4 couplets
