Cao Cao Documents Research

Cao Cao is a renowned statesman, strategist and writer in late Han Dynasty. As a statesman, many of Cao Cao's works were official documents except yuefu poems he wrote as a poet. In these official documents, officialese and diplomatic languages can be found, but more importantly, some of them are prose with distinctive characteristics and fresh and lively style. These pieces are of high value for its depth of thought and literary attainment. According to Lu Xun, Cao Cao's writings are unique for its simplicity and unrestrainedness, and these pieces had also won Cao Cao the title of "the pioneer for reforming the literature" from Lu Xun.Through the analysis to the text of the official documents by Cao Cao, the author summarized the literature features of such documents as the following: (A) paying priority to facts and the function of the documents, which enables the files to serve their purpose well; (B) combining poetry and prose in the same piece, which has the effects of both styles; (C) integrating literature into practical writings, which remarkably touches up the files.Furthermore, the author tried to bring to light the true political significance of the official documents underneath the text. The conclusion is that (A) Cao Cao was not resolute on the issue of the successors of himself and the Cao-Wei Empire, therefore, he hinted about this with euphemisms on different occasions . (B) Cao Cao objected the eunuchs' domination of political power in the court. But since he preferred real power over false title, so he sought co-operation with the imperial authority and fought for his own interests at the same time. (C) Cao Cao valued the ability and sagacity of talents, so he trusted them regardless of their original positions. (D) Cao Cao was free in quoting from different schools of thought in his works as long as they matched well with his intention. Confucius, Mohist, Taoist and Legalist Schools all had their positions in his works.