How does Chinese classical prosody use tones, pauses, and rhyme?

In Chinese classical prosody, the metrical system is fundamentally distinct from stress-based systems like those found in English. Instead of relying on syllabic stress, Chinese prosody utilizes the tonal nature of the language to create cadence and structure.1

• Tones: The various tones of the Chinese language are categorized into two primary groups: even tones and oblique tones. Classical verse, such as the lüshi form, requires lines to be constructed according to strict, patterned arrangements of these tones.23
• Pauses: Chinese prosody incorporates the use of pauses, or caesuras, to help define the rhythmic structure of the verse. These breaks serve as essential points of division within the flow of the poem.24
• Rhyme: Along with tonal patterns, the use of end rhyme is a key element in establishing the cadence and unifying the stanzaic form of Chinese poetry.1

These elements—tonal patterns, pauses, and rhyme—work together to create a formal, lyrical structure that has historically been closely linked to music and the tradition of chanting.1