pianwen
Quick Summary
Pianwen is a form of Chinese prose characterized by parallel construction and balanced tonal patterns, without the use of rhyme. This style, also known as "parallel prose," was particularly used in philosophical and religious debates. It was also employed in literary criticism, such as in Liu Xie's Wenxin diaolong. The term pianwen suggests a "team of paired horses," reflecting its emphasis on balanced, paired sentences. While it creates a poetic, polyphonic effect, it often served as a vehicle for prose-like arguments.12
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Han Yuā¦elaborate verselike regularity of the pianwen (āparallel proseā) style that was prevalent in Hanās time. His own essays (e.g., āOn the Way,ā āOn Man,ā and āOn Spiritsā) are among the most beautiful ever written in Chinese, and they became the most famous models of the prose style he espoused. Inā¦
Read Moreā¦elaborate verselike regularity of the pianwen (āparallel proseā) style that was prevalent in Hanās time. His own essays (e.g., āOn the Way,ā āOn Man,ā and āOn Spiritsā) are among the most beautiful ever written in Chinese, and they became the most famous models of the prose style he espoused. Inā¦
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ā¦writers from the highly formalized pianwen, the parallel prose style cultivated by the Chinese literati for nearly 1,000 years.
Read Moreā¦writers from the highly formalized pianwen, the parallel prose style cultivated by the Chinese literati for nearly 1,000 years.
Read More