sanqu

The term "sanqu" refers to a Chinese literary genre of "nondramatic songs" that emerged during the Yuan dynasty (1206–1368). This verse form represented a liberalization of the earlier ci poetry, incorporating the spoken language of the people more fully.1

While line length and tonal patterns were still dictated by specific tunes, sanqu allowed for the insertion of extra words to enhance liveliness and clarify relationships between poetic phrases. This genre was mastered by the major dramatists of the era and interacted with the rise of drama.1

During the preceding Qin and Han dynasties (221 BCE–220 CE), other poetic forms like the fu (a blend of rhyme and prose) and yuefu (songs collected by the Music Bureau) were prominent. Yuefu included folk songs and ballads, which became a foundation for a new type of poetry called gushi.2