Cao Wei
Encyclopedia
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. Its name came from 213, when Cao Cao's feudal holdings were given the name Wei; historians often add the prefix Cao (曹, from Cao Cao's family name) to distinguish it from the other states in Chinese history also known as Wei, such as the earlier Wei state
during the Warring States Period
, and the later Northern Wei
state. In 220, when Cao Pi deposed the last emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty
, Wei became the name of the new dynasty he founded, which was seized and controlled by the Sima family in 249, until it was overthrown and became part of the Jin Dynasty in 265.
, the northern part of China was under the control of Cao Cao, the chancellor to the last Han ruler, Emperor Xian
. In 213, Cao Cao was granted the title of "Duke
of Wei" and given ten cities as his domain. This area was named "Wei". At that time, the southern part of China was already divided into two areas controlled by two warlords. In 216, Cao Cao was promoted to "King
of Wei".
On March 15, 220, Cao Cao died and his son Cao Pi inherited the title of "King of Wei". Later that year on December 11, Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to abdicate and took over the throne, founding the Wei Dynasty. However, Liu Bei
of Shu Han
immediately contested Cao Pi's claim to the Han throne, and Sun Quan
of Eastern Wu
followed suit in 222.
Cao Pi ruled for six years until his death in 226. He was succeeded by his son Cao Rui
, who died in 239, and was in turn succeeded by Cao Fang
. In 249, during Cao Fang's reign, the regent Sima Yi
seized state power from his co-regent Cao Shuang
in a coup known as the Incident at Gaoping Tombs
. This event marked the collapse of imperial authority in Wei, as Cao Fang's role had been reduced to a puppet ruler while Sima Yi wielded state power firmly in his hands. Sima Yi died in 251 and passed on his authority to his oldest son Sima Shi
, who continued ruling as regent. Sima Shi deposed Cao Fang in 254 and replaced him with Cao Mao
. After Sima Shi died in the following year, his younger brother Sima Zhao
inherited his power and status as regent. In 260, Cao Mao attempted to seize back state power from Sima Zhao in a coup, but was killed by Sima's subordinate Cheng Ji (成濟).
After Cao Mao's death, Cao Huan
was enthroned as the fifth ruler of Wei. However, Cao Huan was also a figurehead
under Sima Zhao's control much like his predecessor. In 263, Wei armies led by Zhong Hui
and Deng Ai
conquered Shu
. Two years later, Sima Zhao's son Sima Yan
forced Cao Huan to abdicate in his favour, replacing Wei with the Jin Dynasty.
, a style of Chinese calligraphy, appeared, with its first known master being Zhong Yao
, who also served as a politician in Wei.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during 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. With the capital at Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, the state was established by Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
in 220, based upon the foundations that his father 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...
laid. Its name came from 213, when Cao Cao's feudal holdings were given the name Wei; historians often add the prefix Cao (曹, from Cao Cao's family name) to distinguish it from the other states in Chinese history also known as Wei, such as the earlier Wei state
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
during the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, and the later Northern Wei
Northern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
state. In 220, when Cao Pi deposed the last emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty
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...
, Wei became the name of the new dynasty he founded, which was seized and controlled by the Sima family in 249, until it was overthrown and became part of the Jin Dynasty in 265.
History
During the decline of the Han DynastyHan 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...
, the northern part of China was under the control of Cao Cao, the chancellor to the last Han ruler, Emperor Xian
Emperor Xian of Han
Emperor Xian of Han , personal name Liu Xie, style name Bohe, was the last emperor of the Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
. In 213, Cao Cao was granted the title of "Duke
Gong (title)
Gong was the highest title of Chinese nobles during Zhou Dynasty and the second highest title, ranked below wang, from Han Dynasty onwards. Gong is usually translated as Duke.-Examples :...
of Wei" and given ten cities as his domain. This area was named "Wei". At that time, the southern part of China was already divided into two areas controlled by two warlords. In 216, Cao Cao was promoted to "King
Chinese nobility
Chinese sovereignty and peerage, the nobility of China, were an important feature of traditional social and political organization of Imperial China. While the concepts of hereditary sovereign and peerage titles and noble families were featured as early as the semi-mythical, early historical...
of Wei".
On March 15, 220, Cao Cao died and his son Cao Pi inherited the title of "King of Wei". Later that year on December 11, Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to abdicate and took over the throne, founding the Wei Dynasty. However, Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
of Shu Han
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
immediately contested Cao Pi's claim to the Han throne, and Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
of Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
followed suit in 222.
Cao Pi ruled for six years until his death in 226. He was succeeded by his son Cao Rui
Cao Rui
Cao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern...
, who died in 239, and was in turn succeeded by Cao Fang
Cao Fang
Cao Fang , formally known as Duke Li of Shaoling, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He retained the title Prince of Qi after he was deposed by the regent Sima Shi...
. In 249, during Cao Fang's reign, the regent Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...
seized state power from his co-regent Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang , style name Zhaobo , was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Cao Zhen...
in a coup known as the Incident at Gaoping Tombs
Incident at Gaoping Tombs
The Incident at Gaoping Tombs in 249 was a coup d'etat that occurred in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The parties involved were Cao Shuang and Sima Yi. Sima Yi seized power during the coup and had Cao Shuang killed...
. This event marked the collapse of imperial authority in Wei, as Cao Fang's role had been reduced to a puppet ruler while Sima Yi wielded state power firmly in his hands. Sima Yi died in 251 and passed on his authority to his oldest son Sima Shi
Sima Shi
Sima Shi , style name Ziyuan , was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In 249, he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang's regent Cao Shuang, allowing the Sima family to become paramount authority in the state, and he...
, who continued ruling as regent. Sima Shi deposed Cao Fang in 254 and replaced him with Cao Mao
Cao Mao
Cao Mao , formally known as the Duke of Gaogui, was the fourth emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a grandson of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi. Described as intelligent and studious, Cao Mao made repeated attempts to seize back state power...
. After Sima Shi died in the following year, his younger brother Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
inherited his power and status as regent. In 260, Cao Mao attempted to seize back state power from Sima Zhao in a coup, but was killed by Sima's subordinate Cheng Ji (成濟).
After Cao Mao's death, Cao Huan
Cáo Huàn
Cao Huan , formally known as Emperor Yuan of Wei, was the fifth and last emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history....
was enthroned as the fifth ruler of Wei. However, Cao Huan was also a figurehead
Figurehead
A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the prow of ships largely made between the 16th and 19th century.-History:Although earlier ships had often had some form of bow ornamentation A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the prow of ships largely made between the 16th and...
under Sima Zhao's control much like his predecessor. In 263, Wei armies led by Zhong Hui
Zhong Hui
Zhong Hui was a military general of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the son of Zhong Yao, a calligrapher and politician of Wei....
and Deng Ai
Deng Ai
Deng Ai was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. It was said that whenever he saw a hill or wide valley, he would immediately size up the best places to store grain and position troops. His talent was recognized by Sima Yi, who recommended him to take up...
conquered Shu
Conquest of Shu by Wei
The conquest of Shu by Wei was a military campaign launched by the state of Cao Wei against its rival Shu Han in 263 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The campaign culminated in the fall of Shu and the tripartite equilibrium maintained in China for over 40 years since the end of...
. Two years later, Sima Zhao's son Sima Yan
Emperor Wu of Jìn
Emperor Wu of Jin, , personal name Sima Yan , style name Anshi , was the grandson of Sima Yi and son of Sima Zhao. He became the first emperor of the Jin Dynasty after forcing Cao Huan, last ruler of the state of Cao Wei, to abdicate to him. He reigned from 265 to 290, and after conquering the...
forced Cao Huan to abdicate in his favour, replacing Wei with the Jin Dynasty.
Culture
Sometime between the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the Cao Wei Dynasty, kaishuRegular script
Regular script , also called 正楷 , 真書 , 楷体 and 正書 , is the newest of the Chinese script styles Regular script , also called 正楷 , 真書 (zhēnshū), 楷体 (kǎitǐ) and 正書 (zhèngshū), is the newest of the Chinese script styles Regular script , also called 正楷 , 真書 (zhēnshū), 楷体 (kǎitǐ) and 正書 (zhèngshū), is...
, a style of Chinese calligraphy, appeared, with its first known master being Zhong Yao
Zhong Yao
Zhong Yao was a Chinese calligrapher and politician of Cao Wei during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in modern Xuchang, Henan, he was at one time the Grand Administrator of Chang'an....
, who also served as a politician in Wei.
List of territories
| Commanderies | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fanyang 范陽 |
Dai 代 |
Yuyang 漁陽 |
Right Beiping 右北平 |
Liaoxi 遼西 |
Lelang Lelang Commandery Lelang was one of the Chinese commanderies which was established after the fall of Gojoseon in 108 BC until Goguryeo conquered it in 313. Lelang Commandery was located in the northern Korean peninsula with the administrative center near modern P'yongyang.... 樂浪 |
Shanggu 上谷 |
Yan Yan (state) Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji... (state) 燕國 |
Changli 昌黎 |
Xuantu Xuantu Commandery Xuantu Commandery was a commandery established beyond the far eastern pale of Han China. It was one of Four Commanderies of Han, established in 107 BCE, after the Han Dynasty invaded Wiman Joseon of Korea. Goguryeo rose in this area in competition with the Chinese over the region... 玄菟 |
Liaodong 遼東 |
Daifang Daifang Commandery Daifang Commandery was one of the remnants of the Four Commanderies of Han in the Korean peninsula.-History:Gongsun Kang, a warlord in Liaodong, separated the southern half from the Lelang commandery and established the Daifang commandery in 204 to make administration more efficient... 帶方 |
| Commanderies | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wei 魏 |
Yangping 陽平 |
Guangping 廣平 |
Qinghe 清河 |
Julu 鉅鹿 |
Zhao Zhao (state) Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others... (state) 趙國 |
Changshan 常山 |
Anping 安平 |
Pingyuan 平原 |
Leling (state) 樂陵 |
Hejian 河間 |
Bohai 渤海 |
Zhongshan Zhongshan (state) Zhongshan was a Di state created by the nomadic Xianyu tribe in China during the later Zhou Dynasty, in the Chinese written sources it is referred to as a state of the Bai Di .)... (state) 中山國 |
| Commanderies | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengyang 城陽 |
Donglai 東萊 |
Beihai (state) 北海國 |
Qi Qi (state) Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province.... (state) 齊國 |
Le'an 樂安 |
Jinan (state) 濟南國 |
| Commanderies | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shangdang 上黨 |
Xihe 西河 |
Taiyuan 太原 |
Leping 樂平 |
Xinxing 新興 |
Yanmen 雁門 |
| Commanderies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henan 河南尹 |
Hongnong 弘農 |
Henei 河內 |
Hedong 河東 |
Pingyang 平陽 |
| Commanderies | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taishan 泰山 |
Jibei (state) 濟北國 |
Dongping (state) 東平國 |
Dong 東 |
Rencheng 任城 |
Shanyang 山陽 |
Jiyin 濟陰 |
Chenliu (state) 陳留國 |
| Commanderies | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dongguan 東莞 |
Langye (state) 琅琊國 |
Donghai (state) 東海國 |
Guangling 廣陵 |
Xiapi 下邳 |
Pengcheng (state) 彭城國 |
| Commanderies | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jingzhao 京兆 |
Pingyi 馮翊 |
Fufeng 扶風 |
Beidi 北地 |
Xinping 新平 |
Anding 安定 |
Guangwei 廣魏 |
Tianshui 天水 |
Nan'an 南安 |
Longxi 隴西 |
| Commanderies | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chen 陳 |
Yingchuan 潁川 |
Runan 汝南 |
Liang Liang (state) The State of Liang was one of the states during the Spring and Autumn Period , bordering the State of Qin and was conquered by Duke Mu of Qin in 641 BCE. The rulers of the State of Liang has the surname Ying , similar to the neighboring State of Qin... (state) 梁國 |
Pei (state) 沛國 |
Qiao 譙 |
Lu 魯 |
Yiyang 弋陽 |
Anfeng 安豐 |
| Commanderies | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wuwei 武威 |
Jincheng 金城 |
Xiping 西平 |
Zhangye 張掖 |
Jiuquan 酒泉 |
Xihai 西海 |
Dunhuang 敦煌 |
| Commanderies | |
|---|---|
| Huainan 淮南 |
Lujiang 廬江 |
| Commanderies | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiangxia 江夏 |
Xiangyang 襄陽 |
Xincheng 新城 |
Nanyang 南陽 |
Nanxiang 南鄉 |
Shangyong 上庸 |
Weixing 魏興 |
Zhangling (Yiyang) 章陵 (義陽) |
List of sovereigns
| Posthumous name Posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life... s |
Family (in bold) name Chinese surname Chinese family names have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic groups in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among overseas Chinese communities. In ancient times two types of surnames, family names and clan names , existed.The colloquial expressions laobaixing... and first names Chinese name Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John-Paul Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John-Paul"... |
Year(s) of reigns | Era name Chinese era name A Chinese era name is the regnal year, reign period, or regnal title used when traditionally numbering years in an emperor's reign and naming certain Chinese rulers . Some emperors have several era names, one after another, where each beginning of a new era resets the numbering of the year back... s and their range of years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese convention: family and first names, and less commonly "Wei" + posthumous name + "di" | |||
| Emperor Wen of Wei | Cao Pi Cao Pi Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet... |
220-226 | Huangchu 220-226 |
| Emperor Ming of Wei | Cao Rui Cao Rui Cao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern... |
226-239 | Taihe 227-233 Qinglong 233-237 Jingchu 237-239 |
| Shao or Prince of Qi of Wei | Cao Fang Cao Fang Cao Fang , formally known as Duke Li of Shaoling, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He retained the title Prince of Qi after he was deposed by the regent Sima Shi... |
239-254 | Zhengshi 240-249 Jiaping 249-254 |
| Duke of Gaoguixiang of Wei | Cao Mao Cao Mao Cao Mao , formally known as the Duke of Gaogui, was the fourth emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a grandson of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi. Described as intelligent and studious, Cao Mao made repeated attempts to seize back state power... |
254-260 | Zhengyuan 254-256 Ganlu 256-260 |
| Emperor Yuan of Wei | Cao Huan Cáo Huàn Cao Huan , formally known as Emperor Yuan of Wei, was the fifth and last emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.... |
260-265 | Jingyuan 260-264 Xianxi 264-265 |
See also
- Shu HanShu HanShu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
- Eastern WuEastern WuEastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
- 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...
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms
- Timeline of the Three Kingdoms periodTimeline of the Three Kingdoms periodThis is a timeline of the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history....
- Romance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
- Records of Three KingdomsRecords of Three KingdomsRecords of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...