Abstract: The rule of “checked tone replacing level tone” in Ci in Song Dynasty was initiated by Shen Yifu and was extensively applied and expounded in compilation of numerous Ci works in such books as Rules of Ci and A Collection of Tunes in Ci. Further, Ci and Tunes by Ge Zai presents summarized theories on checked tone replacing level tone from the angle of the same origin of Ci and lyrics and also lists some examples of checked tone replacing level tone. In spite of the presence of checked tone replacing level tone in Ci in Song Dynasty, checked tone replacing level tone only sees occasional applications by Ci poets and does not necessarily represent a law. A clear boundary still remains between the checked tone and level tone. In Ci and Tunes, the checked tone falls into four parts and is also included in the range of falling-rising tone, thus which is rather paradoxical. Further, characters incorporated in level tone do not meet the actual conditions in creation of Ci of Song Dynasty. More applications in it were compiled by Ge Zai himself based on rhyming books, and confused the boundary of characters used in poems and lyrics, presenting no enough evidence. Conclusions cant be drawn before detailed investigation on characters of checked tones in existing Song works as to which characters can replace those of level tone.

Key words: Ci in Tang and Song Dynasties, checked tone replacing level tone