Cao Zhi (simplified: 曹植, traditional: 曹植, pinyin: Cáo Zhí), courtesy name Zijian (子建 Zǐjiàn), was a son of Cao Cao and Lady Bian, a prince of Wei, and one of the foremost writers of the Jian’an period. With his father and brother Cao Pi he is called one of the “Three Caos” (三曹). He was enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingyuan (211) and Marquis of Linzi (214); Cao Cao considered making him heir, and Ding Yi, Ding Yi, and Yang Xiu supported him. But Cao Zhi was impulsive, drank heavily, and once rode through the Sima Gate against regulations—Cao Cao had the gate keeper executed. When Cao Ren was besieged at Fan (219), Cao Cao appointed Cao Zhi to lead relief forces but he was drunk and did not set out; Cao Cao gave up on him as heir. After Cao Pi became king and then emperor (220), Ding Yi and Ding Yi were executed; Cao Zhi was accused by the inspector Guan Jun of “drunkenness, insolence, and coercing the envoy” and was demoted to Marquis of Anxiang, then moved in quick succession to Juancheng, Juancheng King, Yongqiu King, Junyi, Yongqiu again, Dong’e King, and finally King of Chen (232). He repeatedly submitted memorials (e.g. 求自试表) asking for office or military command; Cao Pi and Cao Rui did not grant him real power. He died at Chen in 232 (posthumous: Prince Si of Chen 陈思王). His poetry and rhapsodies—including “Luoshen fu” (洛神赋), “Seven-step poem” (七步诗, in Shishuo xinyu), and “Baima pian” (白马篇)—earned him the saying “eight dou of the world’s talent belong to Cao Zijian.”
Biography
Under Cao Cao: talent and lost succession
Cao Zhi was Cao Cao’s third son by Lady Bian. He was quick and fond of learning; Cao Cao once asked if his piece was ghost-written and he said he could be tested on the spot. At nineteen (210) he wrote the “Bronze Bird Tower rhapsody” (铜雀台赋) when the tower was completed; Cao Cao was impressed and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Pingyuan. He was close to Yang Xiu, Ding Yi, Ding Yi, and others; Cao Cao several times nearly made him heir. But he “acted on impulse and did not discipline himself” and drank without restraint. He once rode in a carriage through the Sima Gate (reserved for the sovereign); Cao Cao had the gate-keeper executed and cooled toward him. Cao Pi “used art and disguised his feelings” and had palace and court support, so Cao Cao set the succession on Cao Pi. In 219, when Cao Ren was besieged at Fan, Cao Cao made Cao Zhi South Central Army General and General Who Captures Barbarians and sent him to relieve Cao Ren; before he left, Cao Pi plied him with drink and he was too drunk to go—Cao Cao recalled him. After Cao Cao’s death (220) Cao Pi took the throne; he had Ding Yi and Ding Yi and their male relatives executed. The inspector of the principality Guan Jun reported that Cao Zhi had been “drunk, insolent, and coercive toward the envoy”; the Empress Dowager (Lady Bian) prevented his execution. He was demoted to Marquis of Anxiang (221), then moved to Marquis of Juancheng, King of Juancheng, King of Yongqiu, King of Junyi, back to Yongqiu, King of Dong’e, and finally King of Chen (232)—eleven years and three moves of capital, with no substantive office.
Under Cao Pi and Cao Rui: memorials and confinement
Cao Zhi submitted memorials asking to serve (e.g. 求自试表 “Request to try myself”) and warning against over-trusting non-imperial clans (e.g. the Sima); Cao Rui did not give him military or central authority. Tradition (e.g. Shishuo xinyu) has Cao Pi force him to compose a poem in seven steps or die—the “bean and beanstalk” (七步诗) poem; the episode is disputed. He wrote the “Luoshen fu” (洛神赋) on the way to Juancheng (222), often read as an allegory of unfulfilled ambition or (in later tradition) linked to Lady Zhen. He died at Chen in the eleventh month of 232; his posthumous title was Prince Si (思 “thoughtful” or “yearning”). His son Cao Zhi (曹志) inherited and later served under Jin.
Literary achievement
Cao Zhi left over a hundred pieces of verse and prose, collected in the 陈思王集. His five-syllable verse expanded the scope of the genre; he combined the dignity of the Classics with the colour of the Chu ci and the directness of the Music Bureau. Famous works include “Baima pian” (白马篇), “Zeng Baima Wang Biao” (赠白马王彪), “Luoshen fu” (洛神赋), “Qi ai” (七哀), and the disputed “Seven-step poem.” Zhong Rong (诗品) ranked him the highest among Jian’an poets; Xie Lingyun said “if the world’s talent were one dou, Cao Zijian has eight dou.”
Personality and evaluation
He was brilliant and unrestrained, fond of drink and unable to “yield and keep his distance” (Chen Shou), which cost him the succession and led to a confined life under his brother and nephew. Later commentators debated whether his “seven-step” ordeal and the “Luoshen fu” reflected persecution by Cao Pi or literary convention; his memorials show continued desire for military or political use.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 192 | Born (Qiao, Pei) |
| 210 | Bronze Bird Tower rhapsody; Marquis of Pingyuan (211) |
| 214 | Marquis of Linzi |
| 219 | Appointed to relieve Cao Ren; drunk, did not go; lost chance as heir |
| 220 | Cao Pi king then emperor; Ding Yi, Ding Yi executed; Cao Zhi accused, demoted |
| 221 | Marquis of Anxiang, then Juancheng侯, Juancheng王 |
| 222 | King of Yongqiu; “Luoshen fu” (on way to Juancheng) |
| 223–232 | King of Junyi, Yongqiu, Dong’e, Chen; memorials for employment |
| 232 (27 Dec) | Died at Chen; Prince Si of Chen |