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?
Extended data
Seven Steps Poem by Cao Zhi, a Wei poet in the Three Kingdoms Period
Original text:
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?
Interpretation of vernacular:
Boil beans to make bean soup, and filter beans to make juice.
The beanstalk burns under the pot, and the beans cry in the pot.
Beanstalk and bean originally grew from the same root. Why do they torture each other so much?
Appreciate:
This poem takes fried beans as a metaphor to accuse Cao Pi of cruel persecution of himself and other brothers. The tone is euphemistic and deep, and there are reminders and exhortations in sarcasm. On the one hand, this reflects Cao Zhi's cleverness, on the other hand, it also reflects Cao Pi's cruelty in persecuting his brothers and sisters.
The beauty of this poem lies in its clever metaphor and clear meaning. Beans and beanstalks are born from the same root, just like brothers. When the beanstalk burns, cook the beans in the pot and "cry". This metaphor is very touching, very touching.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Seven Steps Poetry