Gui's Thoughts on the Writing Background of Shou

Gui's Thoughts on the Writing Background of Shou

The author is Cao Cao, a famous politician and strategist in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. This poem was written at the beginning of 208 AD, before he conquered Jing and Wu in the south after he put down the rebellion in Wuhuan and eliminated the remnants of Yuan Shao. At this time, Cao Cao is 53 years old and can't help thinking about the journey of life. Therefore, at the beginning of the poem, he chanted with infinite emotion: "Although the tortoise lives for a hundred years, it sometimes flies and eventually turns to dust." "Zhuangzi Qiushui" said: "I heard that there was a turtle in the State of Chu, and it was three thousand years old when it died." Cao Cao did the opposite, saying that the tortoise lived for three thousand years, but it was still inevitable to die! "Everything goes wrong" records: "Flying dragons ride clouds, making snakes swim in fog, clouds stop fog, and dragons and snakes are the same!" "Teng snake" can ride like a dragon riding clouds and fog, and its skill can be described as great! However, once the clouds clear, they will disappear like flies and ants! In ancient times, Qin Huang Hanwu and other great masters were seduced by the art of immortality, but Cao Cao had a clear understanding of the natural laws of life, which was valuable in the era of predicting superstition. What is more valuable is how to treat this limited life? Cao Cao swept away the tragic tone of the literati at the end of the Han Dynasty who lamented that life was like a dream and advised people to eat, drink and be merry in time, and sang generously: "An old horse crouches and aims at a thousand miles. In the year of martyrs, go forward bravely. " Cao Cao compared himself to a galloping old horse. Although old and frail, he was demoted to the next position, but his chest was still full of lofty sentiments.

Although turtles live a long life.

Cao Cao

Although the tortoise has a long life, it still has its time.

A poisonous snake flew in the fog and was finally covered with dust.

An old horse crouches, aiming at a thousand miles.

The martyrs were full of courage in their later years.

The surplus and contraction period is not only in the sky;

Blessings that nourish grace can last forever.

Fortunately, even! Sing with ambition.