These are the techniques used in writing five-character poetry. The establishment of relations among things means that when depicting scenery and human figures, the poet should convey their outward features faithfully, making them look as if emerging right before readers’ eyes. Besides, the poet should demonstrate the implications of things clearly and accurately. The establishment of relations among things and the creation of imagery are inseparable from full exploration of the nuances of feelings and apt depiction of scenery and things. On the one hand, the poet should write with all his passion and devotion, embodying his feelings in external objects. Only true feelings can produce profoundly moving poetry. On the other hand, the poet should pursue underlying implications to the utmost, exploring the spiritual as well as the physical state of human figures, objects and scenery. In doing so, he is able to infuse a poetic charm and vigor into his work, free from a superficial resemblance to the things depicted. Linking the creation of relations and imagery with a description of objects and feelings makes poetry more tangible and vivid. In his work The Critique of Poetry, Southern Dynastiespoetry critic Zhong Rong (?-518 ?) believes that five-character poetry, compared to the four-character poetry represented by The Book of Songs, is adept at utilizing this technique. He gave full affirmation to the five-character poetry popular in the Southern Dynasties, which promoted its development.

Five-character-per-line poems constitute the most important poetic form and are most richly imbued with nuanced flavors. We say that they comply with the prevalent aesthetic taste of today simply because they establish relations among things, create images, fully explore feelings and aptly depict external things, don’t they? (Zhong Rong: The Critique of Poetry)

As long as one knows the key elements, one will be able to produce a poem quickly. There are three things to do: establish relations among things, explore human feelings, and portray scenery and objects. (Xie Zhen: Siming’s Remarks on Poetry)