Version 1
Seven-Step Poetry
Boil the beans to make soup, and drain the black beans to make juice.
The leaves are burning under the cauldron, and the beans are weeping in the cauldron.
We are born from the same root, so why rush each other?
Translation: Boil the beans to make bean soup, and filter the beans to make juice. The bean stalks burned under the pot and the beans wept in the pot. The bean pole and the beans grow from the same root, so why do they have to torture and force each other so hard?
Version 2
Poetry in Seven Steps
Boiled beans burn the pods, and the beans weep in the cauldron.
They are born from the same roots, so why rush each other?
Translation: Boiling beans to make bean soup, the beans are crying in the pot. The bean pole and the beans grow from the same root, so why do they have to torture and force each other so hard?
This poem is written purely in a metaphorical way. The language is simple and the meaning is clear. There is no need for further explanation. Only a few words and sentences need to be slightly clarified, and the meaning is self-evident. The first four sentences describe the daily phenomenon of burning beans and cooking beans. Cao Zhi uses "beans" as a metaphor for himself, and the word "cry" fully expresses the sadness and pain of the victim.
The "soybean" in the second sentence refers to filtering the cooked and fermented beans to make a flavored juice. "萁" refers to the beanstalk, which is used as firewood after drying. The beans that are burned and cooked are the beans that grow from the same root as themselves. It is a metaphor for brothers who press too hard and kill each other. This is actually against the laws of nature and is normal. Not tolerated.
The poet's clever use of metaphors, clever use of words, and blurting out the words in an instant are really amazing. The last two sentences have a sudden change of tone, expressing Cao Zhi's inner grief and indignation. This is obviously questioning Cao Pi: You and I are brothers.
Why do we have to fight so hard? "We are born from the same roots, so why rush to fight each other?" has become a common expression for people to advise people to avoid brothers fighting against each other and killing each other for thousands of years, which shows that this poem has been widely circulated among the people.