Cao Zhi's Outlook on Literature Judged from His Great Attention to Folklore

It is generally held that Cao Zhi(192-232),as one of poets in Three Kingdoms,had not attached enough importance to literature because he once said that the writing of poems and essays is of small value.This general acknowledgement does not,however,match with his achievements in poetry creation.Thus author of this article holds that Cao Zhi had,in deed,paid great attention to literature creation,especially to study on such folklore masterpiece as Book of Songs and to succession of folk music from Han Dynasty.