This ancient Chinese poem, famously known as the “Seven-Step Poem”, was written by Cao Zhi, a gifted poet and prince during the Three Kingdoms period. Legend says he composed it in just seven steps under pressure from his brother, Cao Pi, who suspected him of treason.
The poem uses a simple yet powerful metaphor: beans being boiled over a fire made from their own stalks. The beans, crying in the pot, lament the cruelty of being destroyed by what once gave them life. It’s a heart-wrenching allegory for sibling rivalry—a plea for compassion among those who share the same origin.
Beyond its historical roots, the poem speaks to universal themes: conflict among family, senseless division, and the pain of turning against one’s own. Despite its brevity, it delivers a timeless message—when we harm those closest to us, we ultimately harm ourselves.
Another version of this poem in English is:
Boiling beans on burning stalks,
The beans cry out within the pot.
Born of the same root, you and I
Why the rush to make each other fry?