What was the Six Dynasties essay style?

During the Six Dynasties period (220–589 CE), prose writing was characterized by a focus on lyrical expression and artistic rhetorical devices. A prominent and defining essay style of this era was pianwen, or "parallel prose".12

The requirements for pianwen included:
* Parallel construction: The use of paired sentences that mirrored one another in structure.12
* Tonal balance: The counterbalancing of tonal patterns to create a rhythmic, polyphonic effect.12

The term pianwen is suggestive of a "team of paired horses," reflecting the rigid, symmetrical nature of the writing. While this style was often used for philosophical and religious disputes, it was also employed in significant works of literary criticism, such as the 6th-century Wenxin diaolong by Liu Xie.21

Although pianwen was a prevailing usage, the period also saw a broader movement toward uninhibited individuality in writing, as authors began to move away from the strict imitation of ancient masters.13