During the Jian 'an period, great powers competed for supremacy, autocratic rule was relaxed, and there was a scene of ideological emancipation and literary prosperity. A large number of outstanding writers and poets have emerged, such as "Three Caos" (Cao Cao, Cao Pi and Cao Zhi), "Seven Scholars of Jian 'an" (Kong Rong, Chen Lin, RoyceWong, Xu Gan, Ruan Yu, Yingchang and Serina Liu) and Cai Yan.
Most of them reflect social unrest and express their desire for national unity and personal achievements. Their works are vigorous, sad and generous, showing great enterprising spirit and high passion, which is enough to represent the spirit of the times in Jian 'an. Later generations called this style "Jian 'an Style".
Character representative
Literary works in Jian 'an period, especially poems, are the most prominent. Jian 'an poems were developed on the basis of Han Yuefu and Ancient Poems.
"Cao Shi and his son" are the leading figures in Jian 'an literary world, and Cao Cao's poems are deep, generous and vigorous. Cao Pi's poems are graceful and restrained; Cao Zhi's literary achievements are the highest. He is brilliant in literary talent, gorgeous in rhetoric and good at using metaphors. Therefore, he has an artistic style of "extremely high personality and adopting Chinese words".
His Ode to the Goddess of Luo is a masterpiece through the ages. With concise language and sincere feelings, it depicts the peerless beauty and innocent image of goddess Luo. Among the "Seven Scholars", Wang Shen has the highest achievement, and his masterpiece Seven Wounded Poems is a true portrayal of the war and turmoil in the late Han Dynasty.
The brilliant achievements of Jian 'an literature had a far-reaching impact on the later development of literature and art. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Liu Xie and Zhong Rong praised the writing style of Jian 'an period many times. Tang Chenzi praised "the character of Han and Wei Dynasties", and Li Baiyou wrote the poem "The bones of great writers are all your brushes, and they are in the school of heaven".