Shi
/ʃiː/noun
A form of classical Chinese poetry, especially the verse represented in the Book of Songs and later regulated poetry.
Did you know?The oldest major collection of shi poetry, the Shijing or Book of Songs, was traditionally said to have been compiled or edited by Confucius and was treated as essential moral and political education.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese, c. 1st millennium BCE
Old Chinese
詩 (shī)
“Poem, verse, or song; originally associated with performed or recited poetry”
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
詩 (shī)
“Poetry as a literary and cultural category, including the poems of the Book of Songs”
Middle Chinese, c. 7th–10th century
Middle Chinese
詩 (śjɪ)
“Poem or verse; the pronunciation developed into later Chinese forms”
19th–20th Century
English
shih
“An older English transliteration for Chinese poetry or a Chinese poem”
Modern English
English
shi
“A modern transliteration used for classical Chinese verse, especially regulated poetry”
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