The works of ancient poetry are spectacular, and their types are also diverse. Here, we only analyze from the perspective of meter, and we can divide ancient poetry into two major categories: ancient poetry and modern poetry. Modern poetry, represented by rhymed poetry, has strict metrical requirements; accordingly, we generally refer to any modern poetry that is not bound by the rhythm of ancient poetry as ancient poetry. In addition, judging from the number of words in the poems, there are two main forms of poetry: five-character poems and seven-character poems. Therefore, this article will limit the discussion of ancient poetry rhythm to five-character or seven-character rhymed poetry.
Each verse has eight lines, each forming four couplets. They are called the first couplet, chin couplet, neck couplet and tail couplet in order. When talking about the rhythm of verse poetry, we mainly understand concepts such as "rhyme", "rhyme", "rhyme" and "counterpoint".
1. Rhyme
Rhyme is one of the basic elements of poetry rhythm. When poets use rhyme in their poems, it is called rhyme. There is no poetry (including ancient poetry, folk songs, etc.) that does not rhyme. The so-called rhyme is to put two or more words with the same rhyme in the same position (usually at the end of the sentence). The "rhyme" that is emphasized in the creation of ancient poems is not completely equivalent to the "finals" in modern Chinese pinyin. Therefore, the so-called "same rhyme" can be roughly understood as "the same or similar finals". In regular verse, the even-numbered sentences such as the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth, that is, the endings of the couplets in each couplet, usually rhyme; the third, fifth, and seventh sentences, that is, the first lines of each couplet do not rhyme, and the first sentence of the whole poem It may or may not be in rhyme (the first sentence of the five-rhythm is mostly not in rhyme, and the first sentence of the seven-rhythm is usually in rhyme); and the rhymes (rhyming words) are generally Pingsheng characters (i.e. words with Yinping and Yangping tone).
2. Ping and Lei
Ping and Lei are another important factor in rhymed poetry. When we talk about the rhythm of poetry, we mainly talk about the meter. "Ping" is a term for poetry rhythm: poets divide the four tones of Chinese into two categories. "Ping" means the level tone (including Yinping and Yangping), and "廄" includes the three tones of Shang, Lai and Ru. If the flat and oblique tones appear alternately in the poem, the tones can be diversified and a "harmonious" phonological effect can be achieved. This kind of "interleaving" includes: 1. Ping and Qi appear alternately in this sentence, 2. Ping and Qi exist in opposition in the couplet. For example: "The golden sands and water are warm against the clouds and cliffs, and the iron cables across Dadu Bridge are cold." The equivalence of these two lines is "Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping. For this sentence, every two words have a rhythm. In the Ping sentence, Pingping is followed by 任仄, 任仄 is followed by Pingping, and the last one is 仄 again. In a 廄sentence, 廄廄 is followed by ping, which is followed by 廄廄, and the last one is ping again. This is alternation. As far as couplets are concerned, "Jinsha" versus "Dadu" is flat versus flat, "Shuipai" versus "Qiaoheng" is flat versus flat, "Yunya" versus "iron rope" is flat versus flat, "Warm" versus "cold" is equal to equal. This is opposition.