What are the formal characteristics of parallel prose in the Southern Dynasties?

Parallel prose is relative to prose. Parallel prose pays attention to the duality of form, so it is called parallel prose because its even sentences are like two horses juxtaposed. Although it is not as strict as poetry in melody, it pursues the balance and harmony of phonology. Others, such as paying attention to literary talent and aesthetic feeling, paying attention to allusions and so on. Parallel prose is also called "Liu Siwen" because it uses four or six sentences.

Couplets have appeared in pre-Qin prose, and antithetical sentences have been added to Han Fu, which further affects prose, and the tendency of antithetical sentences in prose is gradually rising. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, parallel prose gradually took shape. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it reached a stage of complete maturity and extreme prosperity.

Parallel prose was widely popular in the Southern and Northern Dynasties and spread to various postures. Bao Zhao was a famous parallel prose writer in the Song Dynasty, and his representative works included Deng Lei's Shore and Sisters' Book and Preface to Mourning the South of the Yangtze River. During the Qi and Liang Dynasties, the famous parallel prose writers and masterpieces were: Kong He's Translation of Beishan; Tao Hongjing and Appreciation Book: The Book of Qiu Chi and Chen Bozhi: The Thought Book of Wu Jun and Song and Yuan Dynasties, etc. In addition, Liu Xie's Wen Xin Diao Long and Xu Ling's Yu Tai Xin Yong are also excellent parallel prose.