The original seven-step poem
Author Cao Zhi?
Sanguowei
Boiled beans are used as soup and fermented into juice.
Honey burns under the pot, and beans cry in the pot.
We are born from the same root, so why rush to speculate with each other?
Poetry translation
Cook beans to make bean soup. I want to filter out the residue of beans and leave the bean juice for soup. The beanstalk burns under the pot, and the beans cry in the pot. Beans and beanstalks originally grew on the same root. How can beanstalk torture beans in such a hurry?
Extended information In the first month of the first year of Huang Chu (220), Cao Cao died at the age of 66, and Cao Pi was promoted to Wang Wei by the prince; In October of the same year, Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty was forced to abdicate, and Cao Pi acceded to the throne, claiming himself. Because xelloss couldn't let go of the experience of fighting for the crown prince, he still held a grudge against Tsao Chi after he proclaimed himself emperor. He was worried that this learned and politically ambitious brother would threaten his throne, so he tried to get rid of him. Cao Zhi knew that his brother had deliberately framed himself, but he could not excuse himself. He had to write a poem within seven steps in extreme grief and indignation. According to Shi Shuo Xin Yu Literature, "Wendy (Cao Pi) tried to make Dong Awang (Cao Zhi) write poetry in seven steps, but failed to achieve Dafa (killing) and re-write poetry ... The emperor was deeply ashamed."
This poem was first recorded in Shi Shuo Xin Yu, and then only four sentences were circulated, namely: "Boil beans and burn beans, and beans cry in the kettle. This is the same root, why rush to fry! " Probably because it is still difficult to determine whether it is really from Cao Zhi during the communication.
However, the author of Shi Shuo Xin Yu did not go far to the world of Cao Wei, which naturally has certain basis. Moreover, according to Wei Zhi's quotation in Shi Shuo Xin Yu, Cao Zhi also said that "words are justified and articles are written as chapters". Cao Cao once tried to use Deng Tong Que Tai Fu, and the success was remarkable, so Cao Zhi made such a good poem in seven steps.
The authenticity of the seven-step poem is controversial. Yu believes that with Cao Pi's IQ, it is unlikely to make such cruel and playful pranks in the palace. Besides, Xelloss knows that Cao Zhi is witty and won't be stupid enough to spite him. I think this poem is a decent metaphor and has a Yuefu flavor. Maybe it was written by Cao Zhi, but the drama scene at the time of creation is probably made up by later generations. "Boil beans and burn beans, and the beans cry in the kettle. This is the same root, why rush to speculate with each other? " It's a fake of Luo Guanzhong, not the original seven-step poem.
References:
Baidu Encyclopedia-Seven Steps Poetry