On the difference between classical poetry and metrical poetry.
First, the ancient style does not talk about leveling. Because the concept of leveling only appeared in the period of Wu Zetian, there is no way to follow the ancient style, and generally it will follow the four tones. This is because the four-tone rhyme was originally summed up from classical poetry ... as long as you want to read smoothly and cadently, you must keep the four-tone rhyme. Modern poetry, on the other hand, must strictly abide by the flat rhythm.
Second, there is no limit to the number of sentences in classical poetry. Write as long as you want. How can you get the number of words stuck without thinking like a metrical style? Mulan Ci, Peacock Flying Southeast and Song of Eternal Sorrow all belong to the super-long ancient style. Modern poetry can be divided into quatrains (four sentences), metrical poems (eight sentences) and metrical poems (more than ten sentences), but even metrical poems with more than ten sentences must strictly abide by the method of flat pasting, and every sentence must be antithetical.
Third, it's not that it's flat and even, only rhyme is ancient style. The core of classical poetry is "antiquity", and the antithesis of metrical poetry and the refinement of word meaning are very strict. Then classical poetry is against these characteristics, so we should use antithesis as little as possible. What people in the Tang Dynasty thought was ancient, which meant simplicity beyond flowery words. Not only the words are simple, but also the "style" of poetry.
Strength, which is strength. Similar to Cao Cao's pathos, also known as the ancient style of Han and Wei dynasties, it is vigorous, open and powerful, which is just the opposite of that weak poetic style. Therefore, the Qi-Liang style we usually talk about, although it was also formed before the Tang Dynasty, is not qualified to be an antique style. So how dare you call yourself an antique when you see those artificial lyrics at ordinary times?
The format of metrical poems is mature, the lyrical description of scenery pays attention to "connecting the past with the future", and with exquisite conception, it is impossible to be as casual as ancient style. Although you can swallow mountains and rivers, you can dance in chains because of the rhythm.
So what should we pay attention to when writing ancient styles now? First of all, you have to distinguish it from metrical poetry, right? Then naturally you can't say four or eight sentences, so it's better to be longer. Then, in narrative, learn the ancient landscape brushwork and do a line drawing, instead of learning Li Shangyin's complicated and obscure writing. The ancient style is not like this.
Then, if it is used for narration, pay attention to the section. Four sentences in one section, eight sentences in one section, as many sentences as possible. Because each section involves the transformation of meaning, or the transformation of time and space, you can also change the rhyme to the end. On the other hand, don't say it directly, it's going downstream with twists and turns, which is similar to writing a short article. In fact, all styles should be exquisite.
By the way, rhyme, ancient style generally uses rhyme, passionate. Of course, it is not absolute, and this aspect is relatively loose. The rhyme of metrical poems is generally flat and must rhyme to the end. The means that can be used in ancient customs, such as adjacent rhyme, even tone and rhyme, are absolutely not allowed to appear.
These are the biggest differences between classical poetry and modern poetry.