Shi Qing’s five-step poem. There was also Liu Gongquan's poem about walking. After listening to it, Emperor Wenzong at that time praised Liu Gongquan very much, which made him proud and surprised. In ancient times, some poets could complete a poem as quickly as possible, so they named it "quick poetry". According to historical records, there were three types of quick poems in ancient China. They are: a poem in three steps, a poem in five steps, and a poem in seven steps.
Shi Qing challenged Cao Zhi, and his poem in five steps and seven steps was widely circulated and praised by the world. After arriving in the Tang Dynasty, some young people claimed that they could write poems in five steps, and the young man's name was Shi Qing. According to the "Complete Poems of the Tang Dynasty": "Shi Qing, a native of Lingling, was smart and could remember well." In the early years of Tang Xuanzong and Li Longji's founding of the Yuan Dynasty, Shi Qing wrote to the emperor Li Longji, saying that he was better at poetry. He said: "Zijian (Cao Zhi) took seven steps, and I can seal the imperial edict within five steps." ?
Li Longji was very curious about this talented man at the time, so he summoned him to meet him. At that time, Li Longji ordered Shi Qing to write a poem with the title "New Year's Eve". Before Shi Qing took five steps, he recited a poem and said: This year will be over tonight, and next year will be over tomorrow. The cold goes away overnight, and spring comes at the fifth watch. The complexion changes in the air, and the appearance is destroyed secretly. Unconsciously, the scenery has already entered the back garden. In the poem, this young man vividly illustrates the sense of urgency that time flies by and time waits for no one, making people suddenly feel the emotion of cherishing time and living in the present. Li Longji and the ministers at that time were full of praise for the young man. Li Longji, who loved talents, immediately appointed Shi Qing as a prison official.
According to the "Old Tang Book", one day, the great calligrapher Liu Gongquan accompanied Wenzong to chat in Weiyang Palace. It happened that the emperor had just given a batch of cold-proof cotton-padded clothes to the border officers, and Wenzong asked Liu Gongquan to make them. A poem to celebrate this achievement. Within three steps, Liu Gongquan actually composed a five-character quatrain, which goes like this: Although there was no battle last year, there is no return this year. How can I repay the emperor's kindness? I get spring clothes in spring.