Cao Cao 曹操
Cao Cao 曹操 (155-220), courtesy name Mengde, born in Qiao County (today’s Bozhou City, Anhui Province) of the Pei State, was a regional warlord and the last Chancellor of Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty in ancient China.
As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms Period, he laid the foundations for what was to become Cao Wei and was posthumously titled Emperor Wu of Wei. Although generally characterized as a cruel and suspicious character in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and other folk cultures, the historic Cao Cao was a brilliant ruler, military strategist and poet. In 208, he launched the Battle of Red Cliffs (the Chibi Battle) and attempted to extend his domination south of the Yangtze River, but was dashed as his forces were defeated by the first coalition of his archrivals Liu Bei and Sun Quan (who later founded the kingdoms of Shu and Wu respectively).
In the 21st year of the Jian’an Reign, Cao Cao was titled Duke of Wei, given the Nine Dignities and given a fief of ten cities under his domain, known as the State of Wei. In the 25th year of the Jian’an Reign, he died in Luoyang. Afterwards, he son, Cao Pi came to the throne. Cao Cao was posthumously titled Emperor Wu.
Cao Cao united the northern part of China, harnessed rivers, and promoted the people with merits instead of their family background. He excelled in tactics, and wrote many military works such as “Simple Explanation of Sun Zi” and “Abstracts to Books of Tactics”.
Cao Cao was also an accomplished poet, as were his sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. His verses, unpretentious yet profound, contributed to reshaping the poetry style of his time and beyond, along with several other poets of the time, their poems forming the backbone of what was to be known as the Jian’an style. He left some famous articles such as “Wondering in Fleabane” and “View of the Blue Sea”. Of Cao Cao’s works, only a remnant remain today, which is entitled “The Collection of Cao Cao”.
Ask Questions ?