Describes someone with exceptional quick wit and literary talent, able to compose brilliant prose or poetry in a very short time.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
After Cao Cao's death, his eldest son Cao Pi succeeded to the throne. Fearing that his younger brothers would contend for his position, Cao Pi acted preemptively, seizing military power from his second brother Cao Zhang and forcing his fourth brother Cao Xiong to hang himself.
Only his third brother Cao Zhi remained, whom Cao Pi deeply resented. Therefore, he ordered Cao Zhi to walk seven paces in the grand hall and then compose a poem spontaneously on the theme of 'brotherhood', but without using the word 'brotherhood' itself in the poem. If he succeeded, he would be spared; if not, Cao Pi would execute him.
Without hesitation, Cao Zhi immediately recited: 'Beans are boiled by burning beanstalks, beans in the pot weep. We are born from the same root, why are you so eager to torment each other?' — This became the famous 'Poem Composed in Seven Paces'.
Upon hearing it, Cao Pi shed tears and couldn't bring himself to kill his brother. He merely demoted Cao Zhi to the Marquis of Anxiang.