Qijue

Qiyan jueju (七言絕句; abbr. qijue 七絕), known in Japan as shichigon-zekku (七言絶句) is a type of jueju poetry form consisting of four phrases each seven Chinese characters (or kanji) in length.

Shichigon-zekku are the most common form of classical Chinese poems (kanshi), and the standard form of shigin (Japanese chanted poetry).

Composition

In composing Shichigon-zekku, the character of the phrases (zekku) is important. The rules are as follows:

• First phrase kiku (起句, "bringing into being"): Depiction of the scene
• Second phrase shoku (承句, "understanding"): Add further illustration and detail to the kiku
• Third phrase tenku (転句, "changing"): By changing the scene of action, reveal the true essence of the poem
• Fourth phrase kekku (結句, "drawing together"): In assimilating the tenku draw together and complete the poem

Examples

• Example of qiyan jueju:

"江南春绝句"

千里莺啼绿映江， 水村山郭酒旗风。 南朝四百八十寺， 多少楼台烟雨中。

"Spring of the South"

Thousands miles of birds' singing, light green along the Yangtze river;
Ponds and hills circling the village with flags in the soothing wind;
Amid the four hundred and eighty temples of the South dynasty;
How many terraces are in the misty cold rains?

—Du Mu (杜牧)
(803～852)

• Example of shichigon-zekku:

"富士山"

仙客来遊雲外巓 神龍棲老洞中渕 雪如丸素煙如柄 白扇倒懸東海天

"Mount Fuji"

This great peak above the clouds, where hermit-wizards came for sport
The deep pools of whose caverns holy dragons have inhabited from old
The snow is like white silk, the rising smoke like a handle
A great white fan inverted, in the heavens above the eastern sea

—Ishikawa Jozan (石川丈山)
(1583～1672)

See also

• Chinese poetry
• Jueju
• Kishōtenketsu
• Shigin
• Japanese poetry

External links

• Background to Mount Fuji poem (Japanese)
• Explanation of Shichigon-zekku form and history (Japanese)