Tang Dynasty Poetry Genre Traditions

Timeline

1. c. 680–800Chang'an and Luoyang · ChinaFrom Shen Quanqi and Song Zhiwen to the generation of Du Fu and Wang Wei, the tonal and parallelism rules of five- and seven-character regulated verse and quatrains became complete; regulated verse was the principal showcase form at the imperial examination and in poetic exchanges.
2. c. 805–830Chang'an · ShaanxiYuan Zhen and Bai Juyi championed the New Yuefu movement, emphasizing 'reflecting governance and giving outlet to human feelings'; long narrative and satirical poems ran alongside regulated verse, expanding poetry's social function and accessibility of language.
3. c. 830–900Yangzhou and Chang'an · ChinaDu Mu, Li Shangyin, Wen Tingyun and others pushed regulated verse and quatrains toward concise subtlety and ornate grace; the Huajian ci style differentiated from the poetic form, while regulated verse remained dominant in examination and yamen exchanges, as the afterwaves of the prose movement spurred parallel debates on poetic and prose reform.