古人為詩，除講究起承轉合結構之外，又注意到線索設計。一首詩只要掌握線索，要瞭解它、欣賞它，就如按圖索驥一樣的容易。所以說：一線在手，通篇掌握。本論文從縱貫式、橫貫式、及縱橫交貫式三方面來探討中國古典詩線索設計。

In composing poetry, ancient Chinese poets paid special attention to its clue-hidden structure as well as its beginning, coherence, transition and combination. As long as a reader is aware of the clues inherent in a poem, he is able to understand and appreciate it easily, just like having something at his fingertips. This paper aims at exploring the clue-hidden structure of classical Chinese poetry from three angles: chronologically, horizontally, and both combined.