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From brotherly beans (xiang1 jian1 tai4 ji2)
By Zhang Ciyun |
December 20, 2009, Sunday
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FIGHTING and killings among brothers are always tragic. Such as the persecution of Cao Zhi, a famous writer in ancient China, by his own brother.
But this particular story did have one good result -- the idiom "(xiang1 jian1 tai4 ji2)," and the story remains popular in China today.
Cao Zhi was the fourth son of Cao Cao, the first ruler of the State of Wei during the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280). One of Cao Zhi's elder brothers was Cao Pi.
These three Caos, known in the history of Chinese literature as the "Cao Father and Sons," were all accomplished writers.
But, of the three, Cao Zhi was by far the most talented. As a teenager, Cao Zhi had already become a well-known writer. His father loved him dearly and intended to name him his successor.
The elder brother Cao Pi, though not the rival of his younger brother in writing, was much better at politics.
He resorted to all kinds of schemes to squeeze Cao Zhi out of their father's favor and finally established himself as the heir to the throne.
After the father died and Cao Pi became the new ruler, the elder brother began to persecute Cao Zhi mercilessly and even intended to kill him.
It was only because of their mother's tearful entreaties that Cao Pi decided to give his younger brother one last chance.
One day, the new ruler summoned Cao Zhi to his presence and told him that he had violated some vital rules and must be executed.
"However, since you are my own brother," Cao Zhi said, "I will give you an opportunity to live on condition that you create a poem in the time it takes to walk no more than seven steps."
The younger brother replied, "yes, I'll do it. Please name a topic."
Cao Pi said, "the topic is 'Brothers,' but not once can you use the word 'brother' in the poem."
Before walking seven steps, Cao Zhi chanted aloud a poem to the effect, "A beanstalk is being used as the fuel to cook beans, and a bean is weeping in the pot, both of us have grown from the same root, so why are you now burning me in such haste?"
Hearing this poem, nearly everyone present was moved to tears, and even the elder brother felt sad and embarrassed.
Thanks to his talent, Cao Zhi escaped death that time, but because of continuous persecution and his deep depression, this highly gifted writer died at the age of 41.
Soon after, the poem was on everybody's lips around the country and the phrase "(xiang1 jian1 tai4 ji2)," or "burning beans in such haste," found its way into the catalogue of Chinese idioms.
Today, both Cao Zhi's poem about cooking beans and the idiom "(xiang1 jian1 tai4 ji2)" are often used to describe fratricide or struggles among blood relatives.
But this particular story did have one good result -- the idiom "(xiang1 jian1 tai4 ji2)," and the story remains popular in China today.
Cao Zhi was the fourth son of Cao Cao, the first ruler of the State of Wei during the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280). One of Cao Zhi's elder brothers was Cao Pi.
These three Caos, known in the history of Chinese literature as the "Cao Father and Sons," were all accomplished writers.
But, of the three, Cao Zhi was by far the most talented. As a teenager, Cao Zhi had already become a well-known writer. His father loved him dearly and intended to name him his successor.
The elder brother Cao Pi, though not the rival of his younger brother in writing, was much better at politics.
He resorted to all kinds of schemes to squeeze Cao Zhi out of their father's favor and finally established himself as the heir to the throne.
After the father died and Cao Pi became the new ruler, the elder brother began to persecute Cao Zhi mercilessly and even intended to kill him.
It was only because of their mother's tearful entreaties that Cao Pi decided to give his younger brother one last chance.
One day, the new ruler summoned Cao Zhi to his presence and told him that he had violated some vital rules and must be executed.
"However, since you are my own brother," Cao Zhi said, "I will give you an opportunity to live on condition that you create a poem in the time it takes to walk no more than seven steps."
The younger brother replied, "yes, I'll do it. Please name a topic."
Cao Pi said, "the topic is 'Brothers,' but not once can you use the word 'brother' in the poem."
Before walking seven steps, Cao Zhi chanted aloud a poem to the effect, "A beanstalk is being used as the fuel to cook beans, and a bean is weeping in the pot, both of us have grown from the same root, so why are you now burning me in such haste?"
Hearing this poem, nearly everyone present was moved to tears, and even the elder brother felt sad and embarrassed.
Thanks to his talent, Cao Zhi escaped death that time, but because of continuous persecution and his deep depression, this highly gifted writer died at the age of 41.
Soon after, the poem was on everybody's lips around the country and the phrase "(xiang1 jian1 tai4 ji2)," or "burning beans in such haste," found its way into the catalogue of Chinese idioms.
Today, both Cao Zhi's poem about cooking beans and the idiom "(xiang1 jian1 tai4 ji2)" are often used to describe fratricide or struggles among blood relatives.
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