During the Three Kingdoms period, the Wei poet Cao Zhi composed a poem in the time it took to walk just seven steps—the beloved "Seven-Step Poem." Yet behind this famous verse lies a bitter story. His brother, Emperor Cao Pi, jealous of Cao Zhi's talent, ordered him to produce a poem on pain of death, saying, "You claim to be so gifted—let's see if you can write a poem in seven steps without using the word 'brother.'" Cao Zhi replied, "Boiling beans to make a broth, filtering the residue for juice. The beanstalks burn beneath the pot, while the beans weep in the pot. They are born from the same root—why torment each other so?" The emperor, moved by the poignant metaphor, spared his brother's life. This tale illustrates how a moment of creative genius can emerge from the deepest familial strife.
Cao Zhi, Cao Cao's third son and younger brother of Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, was steeped in literary culture from childhood like his brother, mastering the *Book of Songs*, the *Analects*, and countless rhapsodies by his early teens. His mind was so sharp that he could dash off poems and essays in one go. One day, Cao Cao read his work and asked in surprise, "Did someone write this for you?"
Cao Zhi shook his head and said, "How would I dare do such a thing! If you do not believe me, Father, please set a topic right now and put me to the test."
Cao Cao soon discovered that his son Cao Zhi possessed extraordinary literary talent. In the winter of 210 AD, after completing the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, Cao Cao ordered his sons to ascend the platform and compose a rhapsody on the spot. The 18-year-old Cao Zhi swiftly produced a piece that was both eloquent in language and impeccable in form, which further endeared him to his father. As a result, Cao Cao several times considered appointing him Crown Prince of Wei to inherit his legacy.
Cao Cao's second son, Cao Pi, was deeply frustrated by this. His supporters repeatedly praised him before Cao Cao, urging a change of heart. In 217 AD, Cao Cao finally appointed Cao Pi as Crown Prince of Wei.
Cao Pi, fearing his position was unstable, constantly sought ways to turn Cao Cao against Cao Zhi. Cao Zhi, naturally carefree and lax with rules, once secretly opened the Sima Gate and raced through in his chariot. When Cao Cao discovered this, he flew into a rage, executed the official in charge of the gate, and developed a deep distrust of Cao Zhi.
Cao Cao once decreed that no one in his household was permitted to wear embroidered silk garments. When he discovered that Cao Zhi's wife had worn such clothing, he ordered her to take her own life. From then on, Cao Cao grew even more displeased with his son. Cao Zhi, deeply distressed, often turned to wine to drown his sorrows.
Soon after, Cao Zhi was ordered to lead troops on a campaign. Cao Pi deliberately brought wine and food to congratulate him, getting him so drunk he was completely unconscious. Just then, Cao Cao summoned Cao Zhi to discuss matters, but Cao Zhi could not go. This enraged Cao Cao, who saw it as self-abandonment, and he used this as an excuse to execute Yang Xiu, who had always spoken well of Cao Zhi.
In 220 AD, during the final year of Emperor Xian's reign, Cao Cao died of illness, and his son Cao Pi succeeded him as Chancellor. Soon after, Cao Pi deposed Emperor Xian, declared himself Emperor (known as Emperor Wen of Wei), and promptly moved the capital to Luoyang.
From then on, Cao Pi subjected Cao Zhi to a series of persecutions. He accused Cao Zhi of improper conduct during their father's mourning period and had him arrested for punishment. Their mother, Empress Dowager Bian, pleaded with Cao Pi to consider brotherly affection and spare Cao Zhi's life. Cao Pi assured the Empress Dowager, saying, "Rest assured, I only intend to teach him a lesson."
At that time, Cao Zhi was the Prince of Dong'e. Cao Pi accused him of relying on his own talent and deliberately flouting the rules of propriety. Then he said, "When our father was alive, he often praised your poetry. I have always suspected that someone else wrote it for you. Today, I will limit you to composing a poem within seven steps. If you fail, it will prove you have been deceiving everyone all along, and you will be sentenced to death!"
Cao Zhi remained calm, nodded, and said, "Please give me the topic." His brother replied, "Take brothers as the theme, but without using the word 'brothers.'" Without a moment's hesitation, Cao Zhi took a step and recited each line as he walked: "Boil beans to make a broth, strain the pulp to extract the juice. The beanstalks burn beneath the pot, while the beans weep inside it—born of the same root, why torment each other so fiercely!"
As Cao Zhi finished reciting, he had taken exactly seven steps. Hearing this, Cao Pi was overcome with shame, spared Cao Zhi from the death penalty, and instead demoted him to the Marquis of Anxiang.
It turns out the poem means this: to cook beans for sauce, beanstalks are gathered for fuel. The stalks burn crackling beneath the pot, while the beans in the pot weep and wail, "We both grew from the same root—why must you boil me so mercilessly?"
Although Cao Pi spared Cao Zhi's life, he never truly let him go, constantly relocating him from place to place, keeping him in a state of constant fear and anxiety. At the age of 41, Cao Zhi passed away in sorrow.
The "Seven-Step Poem" now commonly has only four lines: "Beans are boiled by burning beanstalks, the beans weep in the pot. Born of the same root, why rush to torment each other?" People use the idiom "Seven-Step Talent" to describe someone with quick literary wit, able to compose verses impromptu or write effortlessly.
Source: *A New Account of the Tales of the World*, Chapter "Literature"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "七步之才" came to describe how someone with quick literary wit can compose verses impromptu or write effortlessly.