Chinese poetry

Shi (詩 pinyin shi1) is the Chinese term for poem.

Chinese poems came in many forms. Ancient poem (古詩) and Modern Chinese poems (新詩 vers libre) usually did not follow any prescribed pattern. Poems written in Tang dynasty prescribed to very strict patterns (see constrained writing.)

One common form uses five syllables per line (五言詩). The other form uses seven syllables per line (七言詩). Some poems have four lines (絕詩), some have eight lines (律詩). The last syllable of every other line should rhyme. The last syllable of the second to last line may rhyme with the last syllable too.

See also:

• sage poet (詩聖 杜甫 Tu Fu[?])
• fairy poet (詩仙 李白 Li Po)
• List of Chinese language poets