Cao Teng
Encyclopedia
Cao Teng was a eunuch who served the Eastern Han Dynasty
in its later years. He served four Han emperors (Shun
, Chong
, Zhi
, and Huan
). Through his adopted son Cao Song
, he was the adoptive grandfather of Cao Cao
, a major player in the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history. Upon the creation of Cao Wei
, he was posthumously named Emperor Gao of Wei (魏高帝).
Cao Teng served as Attendant at the Yellow Gates (小黃門) in the court during the reign of Emperor An
. In 120 AD, when Shun was the Prince, the Empress Dowager Deng appointed Cao Teng to serve the Prince Shun because Cao Teng was honest, modest and prudent. Cao Teng gained the trust of the future Emperor Shun and became his personal friend. In 126 AD, after Prince Shun ascended to the throne, Cao Teng was promoted as Regular Attendant (中常侍), the highest possible rank for a court eunuch.
After Emperor Shun died, Shun's infant son died after just one year on the throne. General Liang Ji
promoted the seven-years-old Liu Zuan (刘缵) over the more popular Liu Suan (劉蒜) to be the emperor. Despite being a child, Liu Zuan showed signs of resenting Liang Ji's power, and was soon poisoned by the powerful general. The court was once again split in deciding the successor. One group, led by Li Gu (李固), wanted to promote Liu Suan as the emperor, while Liang Ji led another group that wanted the young Liu Zhi (刘志) to be enthroned. Cao Teng took Liang Ji's side and urged him to defy his critics, and soon the majority backed down.
After Liu Zhi, or Emperor Huan as he came to be known, ascended to the throne, Cao Teng was rewarded with enfeoffment as Marquis of Bi Village (費亭侯) for his participation in the succession debate. He was later promoted to Grand Prolonger of Autumn (大長秋), in charge of the household of the Empress Liang Nüying
, and served also as Coachman of the Changle Palace (長樂宮太僕) of the Dowager Liang Na
.
Cao Teng stayed in the court for 30 years, having served four emperors, and was said to have never made big mistakes. The people he promoted were all very famous throughout the empire, such as Yu Fang (虞放), Bian Shao (边韶), Zhao Dian (赵典) and so on. Cao Teng was a broad-minded person. Once, a provincial governor Zhong Hao (种暠) found evidence that Cao Teng had received bribes and tried, unsuccessfully, to impeach Cao Teng. Despite this, Cao Teng often recommended Zhong Gao to higher positions. Cao Teng was remembered by his contemporaries for his personality and integrity. After Cao Teng died in the late 150s, his son Cao Song inherited his marquis title.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
in its later years. He served four Han emperors (Shun
Emperor Shun of Han
Emperor Shun of Han, trad. ch. 漢順帝;, sim. ch. 漢顺帝, py. hàn shùn dì, wg. Han Shun-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty and the seventh emperor of the Eastern Han period...
, Chong
Emperor Chong of Han
Emperor Chong of Han, ch. 漢冲帝, py. hàn chōng dì, wg. Han Ch'ung-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty and the eighth emperor of the Eastern Han period....
, Zhi
Emperor Zhi of Han
Emperor Zhi of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhang. His reign was dominated by Liang Ji, the brother of Empress Dowager Liang, who eventually poisoned the young emperor....
, and Huan
Emperor Huan of Han
Emperor Huan of Han, ch. 漢桓帝, py. hàn húan dì, wg. Han Huan-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-grandson of Emperor Zhang....
). Through his adopted son Cao Song
Cao Song
Cao Song was the father of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao. He was originally surnamed "Xiahou", but changed his surname to "Cao" after becoming the foster son of the eunuch Cao Teng. Cao Song's descendants also adopted "Cao" as their family name.By the year 193, China had been divided into...
, he was the adoptive grandfather of Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
, a major player in the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history. Upon the creation of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
, he was posthumously named Emperor Gao of Wei (魏高帝).
Cao Teng served as Attendant at the Yellow Gates (小黃門) in the court during the reign of Emperor An
Emperor An of Han
Emperor Ān of Hàn, ch. 漢安帝, py. hàn ān dì, wg. Han An-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Hàn Dynasty and the sixth emperor of the Eastern Hàn period ruling from 106 to 125...
. In 120 AD, when Shun was the Prince, the Empress Dowager Deng appointed Cao Teng to serve the Prince Shun because Cao Teng was honest, modest and prudent. Cao Teng gained the trust of the future Emperor Shun and became his personal friend. In 126 AD, after Prince Shun ascended to the throne, Cao Teng was promoted as Regular Attendant (中常侍), the highest possible rank for a court eunuch.
After Emperor Shun died, Shun's infant son died after just one year on the throne. General Liang Ji
Liang Ji
Liang Ji , courtesy name Bozhuo , was a politician and military commander of Han Dynasty China. He dominated government in the 150s together with his sister, Empress Liang Na. After his sister's death, Liang Ji was overthrown in a coup d'etat by Emperor Huan, with the support of the eunuch...
promoted the seven-years-old Liu Zuan (刘缵) over the more popular Liu Suan (劉蒜) to be the emperor. Despite being a child, Liu Zuan showed signs of resenting Liang Ji's power, and was soon poisoned by the powerful general. The court was once again split in deciding the successor. One group, led by Li Gu (李固), wanted to promote Liu Suan as the emperor, while Liang Ji led another group that wanted the young Liu Zhi (刘志) to be enthroned. Cao Teng took Liang Ji's side and urged him to defy his critics, and soon the majority backed down.
After Liu Zhi, or Emperor Huan as he came to be known, ascended to the throne, Cao Teng was rewarded with enfeoffment as Marquis of Bi Village (費亭侯) for his participation in the succession debate. He was later promoted to Grand Prolonger of Autumn (大長秋), in charge of the household of the Empress Liang Nüying
Empress Liang Nüying
Empress Liang Nüying , formally Empress Yixian was an empress during Han Dynasty...
, and served also as Coachman of the Changle Palace (長樂宮太僕) of the Dowager Liang Na
Empress Liang Na
Empress Liang Na , formally Empress Shunlie , was an empress during the Han Dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Shun of Han. She later served as regent for his son Emperor Chong, and the two subsequent emperors from collateral lines, Emperor Zhi and Emperor Huan...
.
Cao Teng stayed in the court for 30 years, having served four emperors, and was said to have never made big mistakes. The people he promoted were all very famous throughout the empire, such as Yu Fang (虞放), Bian Shao (边韶), Zhao Dian (赵典) and so on. Cao Teng was a broad-minded person. Once, a provincial governor Zhong Hao (种暠) found evidence that Cao Teng had received bribes and tried, unsuccessfully, to impeach Cao Teng. Despite this, Cao Teng often recommended Zhong Gao to higher positions. Cao Teng was remembered by his contemporaries for his personality and integrity. After Cao Teng died in the late 150s, his son Cao Song inherited his marquis title.
See also
- Han DynastyHan DynastyThe Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
- Three KingdomsThree KingdomsThe Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
- Personages of the Three KingdomsPersonages of the Three KingdomsThe following is a list of people significant to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Fictional characters in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and those found in other cultural references to the Three Kingdoms are listed separately in List of fictional people...