Abstract: The tradition of inscribing poems on paper windows is a distinctive aspect of Chinese literary culture.Ancient Chinese poetry boasts a variety of inscription traditions,among which “inscribing poems on windows” is very notable.This practice shares materiality similarities with wall inscriptions and wall posts,including the immediacy of writing on paper windows,the convenience of viewing,and the mobility of paper windows.Unique to the materiality background of this practice are the characteristics of paper windows such as their play of light and shadow,and their role as a point of connection between the interior and exterior.Crucially,the limited space of a single window and the composite space of multiple windows come together organically.The restricted dimensions of a single window typically result in short verses or quatrains,while multiple windows encourage the creation of series of poems.With a return to the literary context of the ancient practice of “inscribing poems on windows”,two aspects have been observed:on the one hand,the spontaneous and casual nature of “writing poems on windows as one wishes”,and on the other hand,the deliberate crafting of inscriptions as classic works—whether leaving inscriptions when meetings are missed or endowing inscriptions on windows with moral or educational functions.Since the Tang Dynasty,the context of “inscribing poems on windows” has migrated into popular literature such as novels and dramas,becoming a narrative device that advances plot development.

Key words: “inscribing poems on windows”, paper windows, materiality, literary context