Cao Zhi - Poetry

Poetry

Despite his failure in politics, Cao Zhi was hailed as one of the representatives of the poetic style of his time, together with his father Cao Cao, his elder brother Cao Pi and several other poets. Their poems formed the backbone of what was to be known as the jian'an style (建安風骨). The civil strife towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty gave the jian'an poems 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 of Chinese literature, the jian'an poems were a transition from the early folk songs into scholarly poetry.

Although jian'an refers to the time between 196 and 220, Cao Zhi's poems could in fact be categorized 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 ninety poems by Cao Zhi remain today, more than sixty of which are five-character poems (五言詩). 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 is Chen Si Wang Ji (陳思王集, Collection of Works by King Si of Chen), compiled during the Ming Dynasty. One of Cao Zhi's most celebrated poems is On 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.

On the White Horse
《白馬篇》

A white horse, in a halter of gold,
Galloping swiftly to the northwest.
白馬飾金羈，連翩西北馳。

Ask which family's son is the rider –
A noble knight, who hails from You and Bing.
借問誰家子，幽幷遊俠兒。

He left his home in early youth, and now,
His name is known throughout the deserts.
少小去鄉邑，揚聲沙漠垂。

Morning and evening he clutches his bow;
How many arrows hang at his side!
宿昔秉良弓，楛矢何参差。

He pulls his bow—the left-hand target is pierced,
He shoots at the right and cuts it through.
控弦破左的，右發摧月支。

Upwards his arrows seek the flying monkeys,
Downward they destroy another object.
仰手接飛猱，俯身散馬蹄。

His dexterity surpasses that of monkeys,
His courage that of leopard or dragon.
狡捷過猴猿，勇剽若豹螭。

Alarms are heard from the frontier!
Northern tribesmen pour into the country in their thousands.
邊城多警急，胡虏數遷移。

Letters are sent from the north, and
Reining his horse he clambers up the hill.
羽檄从北來，厲馬登高堤。

He charges Hun soldiers to the right;
Looking left he assaults the Xianbei.
長驅蹈匈奴，左顧陵鲜卑。

He's staked himself on the edge of his sword;
How can he treasure his life?
弃身鋒刃端，性命安可懷。

Even his father and mother he puts at the back of his mind,
Let alone his children and wife.
父母且不顧，何言子与妻。

If his name is to enter the roll of the heroes,
He can't be concerned about personal matters.
名編壯士籍，不得中顧私。

Giving up his life for the sake of his country,
He looks toward death as a journey home...
捐軀赴國難，視死忽如歸。

Cao Zhi's most famous poem was the Seven Steps Verse, often translated as The Quatrain of Seven Steps.