Cao Zhi (192 - 232), born in Qiaoxian County of the Pei State (present Bozhou City of Anhui Province), was a poet of the Wei State during the Three Kingdoms Period. Both he and Cao Pi were the sons of Cao Cao.

Cao Zhi was born an intelligent child. He had read poems and prose for over dozens of thousands of words at the age of ten. He was an eloquent speaker and a ready writer, thus was much favored by Cao Cao, who once planned to set him as the crowned prince. In 220, Cao Cao died; Cao Pi ascended the throne to be King of Wei, and soon proclaimed himself as Emperor Wen of Wei. Thereafter, Cao Pi regarded Cao Zhi as his opponent, and always attempted to find a good chance to kill the latter. On December 27, 232, Cao Zhi passed away.

Cao Zhi was the most outstanding poet of the Jian'an Period. His early works mostly express his ideals and aspirations, bursting with grand and heroic optimism and romantic feelings, such as the White Horse and others. In contrast, his later works reflected his inner-heart sufferings in a sad and lamenting tone full of grief and indignation, such as To Biao, Prince of Baima. Cao Zhi was the first poet in Chinese poetry history to focus on five-character poems, giving a boost to the development of the poem style. He made remarkable achievements in poetry and descriptive prose, with Luoshen Fu (Ode to the Goddess on the Luo River)being one of his signature works.