During the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), a new style -- Fu (poetry in the Han Dynasty) -- emerged. The name Fu originated from the article Fu Pian written by Xun Qing of the Zhao Kingdom in the Warring States Period (475-221BC). Later, Fu was designated a formal style. Fu is very particular in its literary grace and cadence, possesses qualities of both poetry and prose, and is written in the form of questions and answers.

The development of Fu went through three stages. Famous Fu works of the Han Dynasty included Jia Yi's Lament for Qu Yuan and Ode to the Roc, and Sima Xiangru's (179-118BC) Master Void and Shanglin from the early Western Han Dynasty (205BC-8AD); Yang Xiong's (53-18BC) On Sweet Spring, On the Plume Hunt, Ode to Changyang and Ode to Hedong, and Ban Gu's Ode to the Two Capitals, from the late Western Han Dynasty; and Zhang Heng's (78-139) Ode to Two Capitals written in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).

Despite Fu has the shortcomings of being gaudy and artificial in its wording, it still keeps a position in the development of literature in China. It helps enlarge the Chinese vocabulary and improve the writing skills.