eight-legged essay
A rigid classical Chinese essay form used in imperial examinations, structured in eight parts. Historical term; not used in modern Japanese writing.
The eight-legged essay is a fixed essay format used in China's imperial examinations.
From Chinese 八股文 (bāgǔwén), literally 'eight-legged essay', referring to the eight-part structure required in Ming and Qing dynasty civil service exams.