Seven Steps Poem 七 步 诗 Poem by Rachel Gao

Seven steps poem

When Cao Cao died, his older son Cao Pi attained the throne. He was afraid of his younger brother and wanted to rid of him by some pretense. One day in Court Cao Pi forced Cao Zhi to produce a spontaneous poem within seven footsteps, otherwise facing significant punishment or even death.Here is the famous 4 sentences.


Frying beans with bean stalks as fuel.
Beans weep sadly in the pan.
From the same root we both grew.
Why is the hurry in the grill?


This is a metaphor in which Cao Zhi (represented by the beans) crtiticises why Cao Pi (the stalks) hurried to torture him despite both brothers being from the same parents.

It was said that the elder brother was moved to tears and left Cao Zhi alone.



煮 豆 持 作 羹 ， 漉 菽 以 为 汁 。
萁 在 釜 下 然 ， 豆 在 釜 中 泣 ；
本 是 同 根 生 ， 相 煎 何 太 急 ！