1. Purpose
It reflects the poet's vast feelings, broad mind and heroic spirit, and expresses the author's heroic feelings.
2. Original text
Cao Cao
To the east is Jieshi to view the sea.
Where is the water? The mountains and islands are standing tall.
There are many trees and lush grass.
The autumn wind is bleak and the waves are rising.
The journey of the sun and the moon, if it comes out of it.
The stars are as brilliant as if they came from within.
Fortunately, I sing to express my ambition.
3. Translation
Go east and climb Jieshi Mountain to enjoy the wonders of the sea. The sea is turbulent, and mountains and islands are lined up in the sea, towering upright. I stood on the top of the mountain, and the waves in my heart were undulating like ocean waves. Surrounded by lush trees, lush flowers and plants, it is peaceful and seems to be meditating. The bleak wind came, the grass and trees were shaking, and huge waves were rising on the sea, rolling and roaring, as if they were about to engulf the universe.
The sea has such a broad mind. The rise and fall of the sun and the moon seem to come from the sea's bosom; the brilliant stars in the Milky Way also seem to emerge from the sea's bosom. Ah, I am so lucky and wonderful. Let us sing to our heart's content and express our feelings freely.
4. Creation background
This set of poems was written on the way back to the army after the victory in the northern expedition to Wuhuan in the twelfth year of Jian'an (207). At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when warlords were vying for power in the Central Plains, the Wuhuan people living in the western Liaoning area became powerful. They went south to attack cities and plunder territory, becoming a serious border threat in the Hebei area. In the tenth year of Jian'an (205), Cao Cao destroyed the foundation of Yuan Shao's rule in Hebei. Yuan Shao vomited blood and died. His sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang fled to Wuhuan and colluded with Wuhuan nobles to invade the fortress many times and cause harm. At that time, Cao Cao was in the unfavorable position of being squeezed between the north and the south: Liu Biao and Liu Bei were entrenched in Jingxiang in the south, and the Yuan brothers and Wuhuan were in the north. In order to get rid of the passive situation, Cao Cao adopted the advice of counselor Guo Jia and led the northern expedition in the summer of the twelfth year of Jian'an. The expedition lasted from May to the end of May. In autumn and July, there was a flood and the road near the sea was blocked. Later, he accepted Tian Chou's suggestion and resolutely changed the route. Passing through Xu Wushan, leaving Lulong Fortress and heading straight towards Liucheng, they won the battle. In September, he returned to the army victoriously and passed through Jieshi and other places. He borrowed the old title of Yuefu's "Stepping out of Xiamen Xing" and wrote this famous poem.
5. About the author
Cao Cao (155-220), whose courtesy name was Mengde and whose nickname was Amo, was born in Peiguoqiao (now Bozhou City, Anhui Province). In terms of politics and military affairs, Cao Cao eliminated many separatist forces, unified most of northern China, and implemented a series of policies to restore economic production and social order, laying the foundation for the founding of Cao Wei. In terms of literature, under the promotion of Cao Cao and his son, the Jian'an literature represented by the three Cao Cao (Cao Cao, Cao Pi, Cao Zhi) was formed, which is known as the "Jian'an style" in history, and left a glorious mark in the history of literature. After the establishment of the Wei Dynasty, Cao Cao was revered as "Emperor Wei Wu" and his temple name was "Taizu". His deeds can be found in Volume One of "Three Kingdoms". A collection of thirty volumes has been lost. The Ming Dynasty compiled the "Collection of Emperor Wu of Wei", and now there is the "Collection of Cao Cao".