Poet 曹植 (cáo zhí) was a prince 1,800 years ago, and his father was the famous warlord, King of Wei Cao Cao, 曹操 (cáo cāo).

One day, Cao Pi, Cao Zhi's oldest brother, made up an excuse, summoned Cao Zhi to the court. Cao Pi issued a request to Cao Zhi to compose a poem within seven strides or be executed. As talented as he was, Cao Zhi came out with this quatrain within seven steps. That's how the title of this poem came from.