Cao Cao was not only an outstanding politician and military strategist in Chinese history, but also an outstanding litterateur. He is the author of military works such as "Sun Tzu's Brief Interpretation", "The Art of War" and "Hao Li Xing". ", "Guan Cang Sea", "Xie Dew", "Dan Ge Xing", "Bitter Cold Journey", "Jieshi Pian", "Turtle Although Longevity" and other immortal poems. Later generations also compiled the Collection of Cao Cao.
Cao Cao's handwriting Cao Cao's poetry was greatly influenced by Yuefu. All the existing poems are Yuefu lyrics. Although these poems use old Yuefu titles, they do not follow the poetic style of the ancients. They are new and unfettered. However, they inherit the spirit of "feeling sorrow and joy, and writing out of events". For example, "Xing Dew Xing" and "Hao Li Xing" were originally elegy, but Cao Cao used them to commemorate the time and mourn the rebellion. "Stepping out of the East Gate" was originally a melody lamenting the impermanence of life and the need to enjoy life in time. However, Cao Cao used it to express his ambition to dominate the world and the magnificent scenery he saw after returning from the Northern Expedition. It can be seen that Cao Cao's innovative folk songs opened up a new trend of Jian'an literature and also influenced later Du Fu, Bai Juyi and others.