Cao Zhi

For PRC politician, seeCao Zhi (politician).

Cao Zhi(;Chinese:Tào Thực;192 – 27 December 232),courtesy nameZi gian(Chinese:Tử kiến), posthumously known asPrince Si of Chen( trần tư vương ), was a prince of the state ofCao Weiin theThree Kingdomsperiod of China, and an accomplished poet in his time. His style of poetry, greatly revered during theJin dynastyandSouthern and Northern Dynasties,came to be known as theJian'anstyle.

Cao Zhi Tào Thực
Cao Zhi as seen inNymph of Luo RiverbyGu Kaizhi
Prince of Chen( Trần Vương )
Tenure	232 – 27 December 232
Prince of Dong'e ( đông a vương )
Tenure	229–232
Prince of Yongqiu ( ung khâu vương )
Tenure	228–229 223–227
Prince of Junyi ( tuấn nghi vương )
Tenure	227–228
Prince of Juancheng ( quyên thành vương )
Tenure	12 May 222 – 223
Marquis of Juancheng ( quyên thành hầu )
Tenure	221 – 12 May 222
Born	192 Juancheng County,Shandong
Died	(232-12-27)27 December 232 (aged 40) Huaiyang District,Henan
Spouse	Lady Cui
Issue	Cao Miao Cao Zhi Cao Jinhu Cao Xingnü
Names Family name:Cao ( tào ) Given name:Zhi ( thực ) Courtesy name:Zi gian ( tử kiến ) Posthumous name Prince Si ( tư vương )
House	House of Cao
Father	Cao Cao
Mother	Empress Wuxuan

Cao Zhi
"Cao Zhi" in Chinese characters
Chinese	Tào Thực
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Cáo Zhí Gwoyeu Romatzyh Tsaur Jyr Wade–Giles Ts'ao2Chih2 IPA [tsʰǎʊ ʈʂɨ̌] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Chòuh Jihk Jyutping Cou4Zik6 IPA [tsʰɔw˩ tsɪk̚˨] Southern Min Tâi-lô Tsô Si̍t Middle Chinese Middle Chinese dzawd͡ʒik

In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisCao.

Cao Zhi was a son ofCao Cao,a warlord who rose to power towards theend of the Eastern Han dynastyand laid the foundation for the state of Cao Wei. As Cao Zhi once engaged his elder brotherCao Piin a power struggle to succeed their father, he was ostracised by his victorious brother after the latter became the emperor and established the Cao Wei state. In his later life, Cao Zhi was not allowed to meddle in politics, despite his many petitions to seek office.

Early life

Born in 192, Cao Zhi was the third son of the warlordCao CaoandLady Bian.According to theRecords of the Three Kingdoms(Sanguozhi), Cao Zhi could recite theShi Jing,Analectsand more than ten thousand verses worth of poems before he even turned 20. His literary talent made him a favorite son of Cao Cao in the early stage of his life. He marriedLady Cuiof theCui clan of Qinghe,a niece ofCui Yan.

Character and failure

However, Cao Zhi was an impetuous man with little self-discipline. He was also a heavy drinker. On the other hand, his elder brotherCao Piknew how to act at the right times. Cao Pi also enjoyed a much closer relationship to the servants and subjects around Cao Cao, and they spoke well of him. In 217, Cao Cao eventually picked Cao Pi to succeed himself. This further aggravated Cao Zhi's already eccentric behaviour. He once rode his chariot along the road reserved for the emperor and through the Sima Gate ( Tư Mã môn ), the front gate of the palace. This infuriated his father, who had the chariot driver executed.

Cao Zhi's wife,Lady Cui,was caught by Cao Cao wearing clothes that were too extravagant and superior to her status, violating the law. As punishment she was forced to commit suicide. She was dressed as Crown Princess (consort of the Crown Prince), which was seen as an affront as the succession discussion had ended in favor of Cao Pi as Crown Prince, so she was killed to prevent any further opposition.

Having chosen a successor, Cao Cao took measures to undermine other contestants. He did this by executingYang Xiu,a chief adviser to Cao Zhi. This greatly unsettled Cao Zhi, but failed to jolt him back to his senses. On the contrary, he sank further into his drunken habits. In 219, Cao Cao's cousin and leading generalCao Renwas besieged at the fortress at Fancheng ( Phàn Thành; present-dayFancheng District,Hubei) byGuan Yu.Cao Cao named Cao Zhi to lead a relief force to the rescue, in the hope that the task would instil into the latter a sense of responsibility. However, Cao Zhi was so drunk that he could not come forth to take the order. Cao Cao then gave up on this son.

Within months, Cao Cao died. One of the first things Cao Pi did was to do away withDing Yi( đinh nghi ) and Ding Yì ( đinh dực ), two firm supporters of Cao Zhi. He also sent Cao Zhi, along with the other brothers, away from the capital to a country estate exiling them into the countryside, and prohibited them from taking part in central political issues.

Continued rejection

Prospects for Cao Zhi did not improve after Cao Pi died in June 226. He wrote to the second Wei emperorCao Ruimany times, seeking a position to apply his talents. In 232, he even sought a private meeting with Cao Rui to discuss politics. However, Cao Rui probably still considered him a threat to the throneand declined all the offers.

Death

Severely depressed by the setbacks, Cao Zhi soon developed a fatal illness. Aged 41, he quickly died, leaving behind instructions for a simple burial. His tomb in Yushan ( cá sơn ) ofDong'e countywas excavated in 1951, during which 28 bones were recovered. However, the whereabouts of these bones are currently unknown.

Poetry

See also:Poetry of Cao Cao

Despite his failure in politics, Cao Zhi was hailed as one of the representatives of the poetic style of his time, together with his fatherCao Cao,his elder brotherCao Piand several other poets. Their poems formed the backbone of what was to be known as theJian'an poetrystyle ( Kiến An khí khái ). The civil strife towards the end of theEastern Han dynastygave theJian'anpoems their characteristic solemn yet heart-stirring tone, while lament over the ephemerality of life was also a central theme of works from this period. In terms of the history ofChinese literature,theJian'anpoems were a transition from the early folk songs into scholarly poetry.

AlthoughJian'anrefers to theera namebetween 196 and 220, Cao Zhi's poems could in fact be categorised into two periods, with the year 220 as the watershed. The earlier period consisted of poems that expressed his ambitions. These poems were optimistic and romantic in nature. On the other hand, his setbacks in political pursuits after the death of his father in 220 gave rise to the grievous tone of his later works.

More than 90 poems by Cao Zhi remain today, more than 60 of which are five-character poems ( thơ ngũ ngôn ). These are held in high esteem for their significant influence over the development of five-character poetry in later ages. The most complete collection of Cao Zhi's poems and other literary works isChen Si Wang Ji( trần tư vương tập,Collection of Works by King Si of Chen), compiled during theMing dynasty.One of Cao Zhi's most celebrated poems isOn the White Horse.Written in the early years of his life, the poem portrayed a young warrior who answered fearlessly to the need of his country and reflected Cao Zhi's own aspiration to contribute to his times.

Cao Zhi's full-length portrait on "Nymph of Luo River"(or" Goddess of Luo River ") byGu Kaizhiof theJin dynasty (266–420),which illustrates afu(descriptive poem) of same title written by Cao Zhi.

《 bạch mã thiên 》	On the White Horse
Bạch mã sức kim ki, miên man Tây Bắc trì.	A white horse, in a halter of gold, Galloping swiftly to the northwest.
Thử hỏi nhà ai tử, u tịnh du hiệp nhi.	Ask which family's son is the rider – A noble knight, who hails fromYouandBing.
Thiếu tiểu đi hương ấp, giương giọng sa mạc rũ.	He left his home in early youth, and now, His name is known throughout the deserts.
Túc tích bỉnh lương cung, hộ thỉ gì so le.	Morning and evening he clutches his bow; How many arrows hang at his side!
Khống huyền phá tả, hữu phát tồi nguyệt chi.	He pulls his bow — the left-hand target is pierced, He shoots at the right and cuts it through.
Ngưỡng tay tiếp phi nhu, cúi người tán vó ngựa.	Upwards his arrows seek the flying monkeys, Downward they destroy another object.
Mẫn tiệp quá hầu vượn, dũng phiếu nếu báo li.	His dexterity surpasses that of monkeys, His courage that of a leopard or dragon.
Biên thành nhiều cảnh cấp, hồ lỗ số di chuyển.	Alarms are heard from the frontier! Northern tribesmen pour into the country in their thousands.
Vũ hịch từ bắc tới, lệ mã đăng cao đê.	Letters are sent from the north, and Reining his horse he clambers up the hill.
Tiến nhanh đạo Hung nô, tả cố lăng Tiên Bi.	He charges Hun soldiers to the right; Looking left he assaults theXianbei.
Bỏ thân ngọn gió đoan, tánh mạng an nhưng hoài.	He has staked himself on the edge of his sword; How can he treasure his life?
Cha mẹ thả không màng, gì ngôn tử cùng thê.	Even his father and mother he puts at the back of his mind, Let alone his children and wife.
Danh biên tráng sĩ tịch, không được trung cố tư.	If his name is to enter the roll of the heroes, He cannot be concerned about personal matters.
Hy sinh thân mình phó quốc nạn, coi chết chợt như về.	Giving up his life for the sake of his country, He looks toward death as a journey home...

Translation by Wu Fusheng and Gradham Hartill

Cao Zhi's most famous poem was theSeven Steps Verse,often translated asThe Quatrain of Seven Steps.However, his authorship of this poem is disputed since the poem comes from theShishuo Xinyu,a collection of ahistorical anecdotes.

InRomance of the Three Kingdoms

Portrait of Cao Zhi from aQing dynastyedition of the historical novelRomance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms,a 14th-century historical novel, was a romanticisation of the events that occurred during the lateEastern Han dynastyandThree Kingdomsperiod. Exploiting the complicated relationship among theCao Cao's sons, especiallyCao Piand Cao Zhi,Luo Guanzhongwas able to create a scenario where the elder brother, having succeeded his father, tried to do away with his younger brother.

After the death of Cao Cao, Cao Zhi failed to turn up for the funeral. Men sent by Cao Pi found Cao Zhi drunk in his own house. Cao Zhi was then bound and brought to Cao Pi. When Empress Bian, their common birth mother, heard of this, she went to Cao Pi and pleaded for the life of her younger son. Cao Pi agreed. However,Hua Xinthen convinced Cao Pi to put Cao Zhi's literary talent to a test. If Cao Zhi failed the test, it would be excuse enough to put him to death, Hua Xin suggested.

Cao Pi agreed and held audience with Cao Zhi, who in great trepidation bowed low and confessed his faults. On the wall there was a painting of two oxen fighting, one of which was falling into a well. Cao Pi told his brother to make a poem based on the painting after walking seven paces. However, the poem was not to contain explicit reference to the subjects of the drawing.

Cao Zhi took seven paces as instructed, and the poem was already formulated in his heart. He then recited:

Two butcher's victims lowing walked along,
Each head bore curving bones, a sturdy pair.
Hai thịt cùng nói hành, trên đầu mang đột cốt.

They met just by a hillock, both were strong,
Each would avoid a pit newly-dug there.
Tương ngộ khối dưới chân núi, hốt khởi tương đường đột.

They fought unequal battle, for at length
One lay below a gory mess, inert.
Nhị địch không đều mới vừa, một thịt nằm thổ quật.

'Twas not that they were of unequal strength
Though wrathful both, one did not strength exert.
Cũng không là lực không bằng, thịnh khí không tiết tất.

Translation by C. H. Brewitt-Taylor

However, Cao Pi was not satisfied. He then bade Cao Zhi make another poem on the spot based on their fraternal relationship, without using the word "brother". Not taking a second to think, Cao Zhi recited the famousSeven Steps Verse:

Nấu đậu châm cành đậu, đậu ở phủ trung khóc. Vốn là cùng căn sinh, tương tiên hà thái cấp? (see translations and different renditions inSeven Steps Verse)

Having heard this,Cao Piwas moved to tears. He then let his brother go after merely degrading the peerage of the latter as a punishment.

Family

Main article:Cao Wei family trees § Cao Zhi

Modern references

In 2002,Hong Kong'sTVBproduced the television drama,Where the Legend Begins,featuring Cao Zhi as the intelligent and compassionate protagonist.Steven Maplayed the role of Cao Zhi in the series. There is also a 2013 Chinese television seriesLegend of Goddess Luoproduced by Huace Film and TV, starringYang Yangas Cao Zhi.

Cao Zhi (Ts'ao Chih) may be the titular figure ofEzra Pound's poemTs'ai Chi'h,included inDes Imagistes(1914).

See also

• Han poetry
• Jian'an poetry
• Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms
• List of Chinese language poets
• The Quatrain of Seven Steps

Further reading

• Chen, Shou(3rd century).Records of the Three Kingdoms(Sanguozhi).
• de Crespigny, Rafe(2007).A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms 23-220 AD.Leiden: Brill.ISBN9789004156050.
• Luo, Guanzhong(14th century).Romance of the Three Kingdoms(Sanguo Yanyi).
• Luo, Guanzhong(2007).Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel: Volume IV.Translated by Roberts, Moss. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press.ISBN978-7-119-00590-4.
• Pei, Songzhi(5th century).Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms(Sanguozhi zhu).
• Ruthven, K.K. (1969).A Guide to Ezra Pound's Personae (1926).University of California Press.
• Sima, Guang(1084).Zizhi Tong gian.

External links

• Works by Zhi CaoatProject Gutenberg
• Works by or about Cao Zhiat theInternet Archive
• Works by or about Zi gianat theInternet Archive