Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 5, 2024

The Early Development of Chinese Couplets and Their Historical Poetic Significance

(Abstract)

Xie Yan

Chinese couplets are not merely a linguistic phenomenon; they also constitute an art form with significant importance in the history of poetry. The unique prosodic, grammatical, and semantic characteristics of the Chinese language facilitate couplet creation, while the rhythmic patterns inherent in five-character poems establish a close connection between these two forms. The period from the Han and Wei dynasties to the Qi Liang period was critical for the development of poetic couplets, characterized by a “positive negativecombined” process. From ancient poems to the era of Yan Yanzhi, the grammatical rigor and semantic freedom of couplets developed in inverse proportion and fluctuated dramatically. However, a shift occurs with Yan Yanzhi and Xie Lingyun: grammatical rigor and semantic freedom developed in direct proportion, leading to a state of dialectical unity. Poets continually refined couplets, driving innovation in both the content and form of poetry. As a result, the development of couplets became a key force propelling the evolution of classical Chinese poetry. By analyzing the trajectory and underlying principles of couplets, we gain insights not only into the national characteristics of Chinese literature but also into the wisdom embedded within Chinese thought.