Boiled beans are held as soup and simmered as juice.
Honey burns under the pot, and beans cry in the pot.
We are born from the same root. What's the hurry?
suggestion
Cao Zhi, the youngest son of Cao Cao, was gifted since childhood and was deeply loved by his father. After Cao Cao's death, his younger brother Cao Pi became the emperor of Wei. Cao Pi is a jealous man. He was worried that his younger brother would threaten his throne and wanted to kill him.
One day, Cao Pi called Cao Zhi to him and asked him to write a poem within seven steps to prove his talent in writing poetry. If he can't write it, it will be tantamount to deceiving the emperor and putting him to death.
Cao Zhi was sad and angry when he knew that his brother was going to kill him. He fought back his grief and tried to think about it ... Sure enough, he wrote a seven-step poem and read it out on the spot:
Boiled beans are held as soup and simmered as juice.
Honey burns under the pot, and beans cry in the pot.
We are born from the same root. What's the hurry?
record
According to Shi Shuo Xin Yu. Literature, after Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, has always held a grudge against his talented brother Cao Zhi. On one occasion, he ordered Cao Zhi to write a poem within seven steps. If he could not do it, he would be executed by Dafa (execution). However, his voice did not fall, and Cao Zhi answered and said four poems, which are the familiar poems above. Because it is limited to seven steps, it is called "seven-step poem" by later generations. It is said that Cao Pi was "deeply ashamed" after hearing this, not only because Cao Zhi showed extraordinary talent in poetry, but also because the poem showed that brothers are brothers, and they should not be suspicious and resentful, which naturally made the emperor feel ashamed.
This poem was written in a purely metaphorical way. The language is simple and clear, and there is no need to explain it. Just a little dredging in individual words and phrases, its significance is self-evident. "Douchi" in the second sentence refers to Douchi that has been filtered and cooked to make sauce. "Fen" refers to beanstalk, which is dried and used as firewood. The powder is cooked with beans from the same root. Metaphor brothers are too tight, give up on themselves and violate heaven, which is naturally unacceptable. The poet's clever metaphor and clever language blurted out in an instant, which was really amazing. For thousands of years, the word "born from the same root, why bother to fry each other" has become a common language to persuade brothers not to kill each other, which shows that this poem is widely circulated among the people.
This poem was first recorded in Shi Shuo Xin Yu, and only four sentences were circulated later, namely: "Boil beans and burn them, 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. So we still introduce it to readers as Cao Zhi's works.
Of course, the style of this poem is not consistent with other poems in Cao Zhi's collected works, because it was written in a hurry, so it is far from the tempering of language and the exquisiteness of images. It has won the appreciation of readers for thousands of years with appropriate vivid metaphors and clear and profound meanings.
author
Cao Zhi (192-233) Zijian. Pei Guoqiao (now Bozhou, Anhui) was born. An outstanding poet in the Three Kingdoms Wei Dynasty. The name of Cao Cao's third son is Chen Wangsi. Because of his rich talents, he was favored by Cao Cao in his early years. He once wanted to be a prince, but he fell out of favor. In the 16th year of Jian 'an (2 1 1), the plain was closed, and in the 19th year of Jian 'an (2 14), it was changed to Linzi. In the second year of Huang Chu's stay in Wei Wendi (22 1), King Juan changed his name. After Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, he was suspected and persecuted by Cao Pi, and was demoted many times and changed his fief. After Xelloss's death, Cao Rui, Xelloss's son, acceded to the throne. Cao Zhi wrote several times in the hope of being appointed, but failed to do so, and finally died of depression at the age of 4 1.
Jian 'an period in literary history refers to the period from Jian 'an to Wei Chu. The literature of this period is marked by the achievements of poetry. Many works can draw nutrition from the folk songs of Han Yuefu, reflect the pain of social unrest and people's displacement, and reflect the desire for national unity, with generous words and rich language. Later generations praised the elegance and boldness of these works with "Jian 'an Style". But some chapters show the idea of negative birth. The representative figures in this period are Cao Cao, Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, Jian 'an Qizi and so on. Cao Zhi's life and creation are divided into two periods with Cao Pi as the boundary. A few works in the early stage show social unrest and their own ambitions, and the tone of poetry is cheerful and heroic. Such as "White Horse" and "Song Ying's". His later works reflect his depressed emotions, and some poems are mixed with strong negative thoughts. His poems make good use of metaphors, concise language and Hua Mao's words, which fully represent the achievements of Jian 'an poetry and have a great influence on the development of five-character poetry. He is also good at poetry and prose. His "Ode to the Goddess of Luo" is beautiful, full of myth and has great influence, and it is the representative work of lyric small fu in Jian 'an period. There are also famous essays, such as Asking for a Self-Test Table.
Make an appreciative comment
Cao Shi and his son were famous writers in the Three Kingdoms period, collectively known as the Three Caos, and left many immortal chapters in the history of China literature. Cao Zhi's Seven Steps Poetry is a much-told story, and its significance is no longer the value of the poem itself. It contains profound political connotation and has become a portrayal of brothers' struggle for status, power and property in the long river of history.
Boil beans and burn beans, and the beans cry in the pot. We are born from the same root, so why should we speculate with each other?
Needless to say, this is Cao Zhi's complaint against his younger brother Cao Pi.
Yes, Cao Zhi is indeed an old enemy of Cao Pi. He was especially loved by his father Cao Cao, who once wanted to abolish Cao Pi and make him a prince. It is reasonable to be jealous of xelloss. When Cao Zhi was a teenager, Cao Cao was a little skeptical when he saw Cao Zhi's article. He thought that Cao Zhi had someone write it for him, and Cao Zhi asked his father to test it face to face. After several interviews, Cao Zhi did "export and write it down." If it weren't for the strong opposition of some ministers, Cao Zhi would really be made a prince, and the struggle between Cao Pi and his brother Cao Zhi began from this era.
Once Cao Cao sent troops to fight, both Cao Zhi and Cao Pi came to see him off. Before leaving, Cao Zhi read aloud the flattering articles praising Cao Cao, which everyone appreciated. Cao Pi sent his father away with tears, which moved Cao Cao and made him cry. This small move narrowed the distance between Cao Pi and his father and deepened the relationship between father and son. It seems that what is needed is affection between father and son, not flattery.
On another occasion, Cao Cao wanted to send Cao Zhi to lead the troops to war. Leading troops to war is a symbol of mastering the military power and a symbol of Cao Cao's key training. Of course, Cao Pi was annoyed when he got the news. what should he do ？ Xelloss thought of a fatal trick. He took good wine and food in advance, drank with Cao Zhi and got him drunk. Cao Cao sent someone to preach Cao Zhi, but Cao Zhi was still sleepy after several reminders. Cao Cao was furious and canceled Cao Zhi's decision to lead the troops.
It seems that Cao Zhi only deserves to be an informal writer, but it is difficult to be a resourceful politician.
In the struggle between Cao Zhi and Cao Pi, Cao Pi was the winner and eventually inherited the throne of Wei State. It stands to reason that Cao Pi's position and power have been basically consolidated, but the idea of hating Cao Zhi has not changed. How cruel and heartless this is.
In fact, Cao Zhi didn't commit any big crime, but someone accused him of drinking and swearing. He actually detained the emissary sent by Cao Pi, without any signs or signs of recruiting and plotting rebellion. This is not a crime. Cao Pi came up with a method of "seven steps into a poem" to punish his younger brother. Fortunately, exporting poetry is Cao Zhi's specialty, and this "seven-step poem" has become a life-saving poem. Xelloss had to take back his orders and lower Cao Zhi's rank.
Throughout thousands of years of history, it is very pitiful that emperors and their descendants live in harmony, tolerate each other and do not fight for power and profit. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Gong Zijiu and Xiaobai (Qi Huangong) of Qi, Fu Su and Hu Hai (Qin Ershi) of Qin, and the change of Xuanwu Gate of Tang ... There are countless examples of brothers killing each other.
In the feudal era, this phenomenon of fighting for power and profit and killing each other between brothers was the inevitable result of the social system. In that social system where power is everything, it seems normal to fight for power by hook or by crook. Overthrow the monarchy and establish democracy, how many brothers are missing. However, unless the privilege is abolished, the "seven-step poem" must be written by someone.