A Retrospective and Critical Examination of Research on the Formation of Prosodic Norms in the Seven-character Regulated Verse

While scholarly attention to the metrical evolution of seven-character poetry has grown in recent years, research on the developmental process of prosodic norms in the seven-character regulated verse (七律, qilü) remains fraught with inadequacies and persistent misconceptions. This study contends that advancing the discourse on the metrical transformation of seven-character poetry and the formation of the seven-character regulated verse—ultimately aiming to reconstruct a comprehensive historical narrative of its prosodic development—requires a multifaceted approach. First, it is imperative to address the structural integrity and systematicity of the seven-character regulated verse as a poetic form. Second, scholars must rigorously account for the diachronic progression and distinct developmental phases underlying its prosodic maturation. Third, the stylistic diversity and inherent complexity of the seven-character regulated verse demand nuanced recognition. Finally, comparative analyses are essential to elucidate the interplay between the seven-character regulated verse and related forms—such as the five-character regulated verse (五律, wulü) and the seven-character ballad (七言歌行, qiyan gexing)—during their respective formative periods, particularly regarding mutual influences and divergences in expressive function.