2020/5/7 Cao Pi - Wikipedia

Cao Pi
Cao Pi ( pronunciation ) (c. 187[2] – 29 June 226[3]),[4]
courtesy name Zihuan, was the first emperor of the state of
Cao Pi
Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the 曹丕
second son of Cao Cao, a warlord who lived in the late Eastern
Han dynasty, but the eldest son among all the children born to
Cao Cao by his concubine (later wife), Lady Bian. According to
some historical records, he was often in the presence of court
officials in order to gain their support. He was mostly in charge
of defence at the start of his career. After the defeat of Cao Cao's
rival Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu, he took Yuan Xi's
widow, Lady Zhen, as a concubine, but in 221 Lady Zhen died
and Guo Nüwang became empress.

On 25 November 220,[5] Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian, the last

ruler of the Eastern Han dynasty, to abdicate in his favour, after
which on 11 December 220[1] he proclaimed himself emperor
and established the state of Cao Wei. Cao Pi continued the wars A Tang dynasty painting of Cao Pi
against the states of Shu Han and Eastern Wu, founded by his and two ministers flanking him, by
father's rivals Liu Bei and Sun Quan respectively, but did not Yan Liben
make significant territorial gain in the battles. Unlike his father,
Emperor of Wei
Cao Pi concentrated most of his efforts on internal
administration rather than on waging wars against his rivals. Reign 11 December 220[1]
During his reign, he formally established Chen Qun's nine-rank – 29 June 226
system as the base for civil service nomination, which drew Successor Cao Rui
many talents into his government. On the other hand, he
drastically reduced the power of princes, stripping off their King of Wei (魏王)
(under the Han Empire)
power to oppose him, but at the same time, rendering them
unable to assist the emperor if a crisis arose within the state. Tenure 15 March 220 - 11
After Cao Pi's death, his successor Cao Rui granted him the December 220
posthumous name "Emperor Wen" and the temple name
Predecessor Cao Cao
"Shizu".
Imperial Chancellor (丞相)
Cao Pi was also an accomplished poet and scholar, just like his (under the Han Empire)
father Cao Cao and his younger brother Cao Zhi. He wrote Yan Tenure 15 March 220 - 11
Ge Xing (燕歌行), the first Chinese poem in the style of seven December 220
syllables per line ( 七 言 詩 ). He also wrote over a hundred
articles on various subjects. Predecessor Cao Cao

Born c. 187[2]
Qiao County, Pei
Contents State, Han Empire[2]

Early life and career Died June 29, 226

(aged 38–39) [3]
Succession struggle with Cao Zhi Luoyang, Wei Empire
As King of Wei Burial Shouyang
As emperor of Cao Wei Mausoleum (首陽陵),
Succeeding Emperor Xian Yanshi, Henan

Military failures against Sun Quan Consorts Empress Wenzhao

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Domestic matters Empress Wende

Treatment of princes Issue Cao Rui
Treatment of officials Cao Xie
Cao Rui
Succession issues and death
Cao Jian
Family Cao Lin
In popular culture Cao Li
Cao Yong
See also Cao Gong
References Cao Yan
Princess Dong
Full name
Early life and career
Family name: Cao (曹)
Cao Pi was the eldest son of Cao Cao and his concubine Lady Given name: Pi (丕)
Bian, but he was the second among all of Cao Cao's sons. (The Courtesy name: Zihuan (子桓)
first was Cao Ang) At the time of Cao Pi's birth, Cao Cao was a Era name and dates
mid-level officer in the imperial guards in the capital Luoyang,
Huangchu (黃初): 220–226
with no hint that he would go on to the great campaigns he
eventually carried out after the collapse of the imperial Posthumous name
government in 190. Cao Pi was recorded as excellent Emperor Wen (文帝)
swordsman as he studied martial arts from Shi E, a gentleman
Temple name
of the household from the "Rapid as Tigers" (虎賁) division of
the imperial guards.[6] In the period after 190 when Cao Cao Gaozu (高祖)
was constantly waging war against other rival warlords, it is not House House of Cao
known where Cao Pi and Lady Bian were, or what they did. The
lone reference to Cao Pi during this period was in 204, when he Father Cao Cao
took Yuan Xi's widow Lady Zhen as his wife. Mother Empress Wuxuan

Succession struggle with Cao Zhi Cao Pi

The next immediate reference to Cao Pi's activities was in 211,

when he was appointed General of the Household for All "Cao Pi" in Chinese characters
Purposes (五官中郎將) and Vice Imperial Chancellor ( 副丞相).
This position placed him second to his father, who was then
Chinese 曹丕
Imperial Chancellor (丞相) and the de facto head of government Transcriptions
in China. The eldest of all of Cao Cao's sons, Cao Ang, had died Standard Mandarin
early, so Cao Pi was regarded as the eldest among all his father's
sons. Besides, Cao Pi's mother had also become Cao Cao's official Hanyu Pinyin Cáo Pī
spouse after Cao Cao's first wife Lady Ding was deposed. Cao Pi Gwoyeu Romatzyh Tsaur Pi
thus became the presumptive heir to his father. Wade–Giles Ts'ao2 P'i1

However, Cao Pi's status as heir was not immediately made legal, IPA [tsʰǎu pʰí]
and for years there were lingering doubts on whom Cao Cao Yue: Cantonese
intended to make heir. Cao Cao greatly favoured Cao Zhi (his Yale Romanization Tsòuh Pēi
third son with Lady Bian), who was known for his literary talents.
Both Cao Pi and Cao Zhi were talented poets, but Cao Zhi was Jyutping Cou4 Pei1
more highly regarded as a poet and speaker. By 215, the brothers IPA [tsʰȍu pʰéi]
appeared to be in harmony with each other, but each had his own Southern Min
group of supporters and close associates engaging the other side
in clandestine rivalry. Initially, Cao Zhi's party appeared to be Tâi-lô Tsô Phi
prevailing, and in 216 they were successful in falsely accusing two Middle Chinese

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officials supporting Cao Pi – Cui Yan and Mao Jie. Cui Yan was Middle Chinese Dzaw Pʰi
executed, while Mao Jie was deposed. However, the situation
shifted after Cao Cao received advice from his strategist Jia Xu, who concluded that changing the
general rules of succession (primogeniture) would be disruptive – using Yuan Shao and Liu Biao as
negative examples. Cao Pi was also fostering his image among the people and created the sense that
Cao Zhi was wasteful and lacking actual talent in governance. In 217, Cao Cao, who had received the
title of a vassal king – King of Wei ( 魏 王 ) – from Emperor Xian (whom he still paid nominal
allegiance to), finally declared Cao Pi as his heir apparent (世子). Cao Pi would remain as such until
his father's death in 220.

As King of Wei
Cao Cao died in the spring of 220 in Luoyang. Even though Cao Pi had been his father's heir apparent
for several years, there was initially some confusion as to what would happen next. The apprehension
was particularly heightened when, after Cao Cao's death, the Qingzhou Corps under the general Zang
Ba suddenly deserted, leaving Luoyang and returning home. Besides, Cao Pi's younger brother Cao
Zhang (also born to Lady Bian) had arrived in Luoyang in a hurry, resulting in rumours that he was
intending to seize power from his elder brother. Upon hearing these news at Cao Cao's headquarters
at Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei), Cao Pi hastily declared himself the new King of Wei (魏王) and
issued an edict in the name of his mother Queen Dowager Bian, before receiving an official
confirmation from Emperor Xian, to whom he still nominally paid allegiance. After Cao Pi's self-
declaration, neither Cao Zhang nor any other individual took action against him. Cao Pi then ordered
his brothers, including Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi, to return to their respective fiefs. With the help of
Jiang Ji, the political situation soon stabilised.

As emperor of Cao Wei

Succeeding Emperor Xian

In the winter of 220, Cao Pi made his move for the imperial throne, strongly suggesting to Emperor
Xian that he should yield the throne. Emperor Xian did so, and Cao Pi formally declined three times
(a model that would be followed by future usurpers in Chinese history), and then finally accepted,
establishing the state of Cao Wei. This event marked the official end of the Han dynasty and the
beginning of the Three Kingdoms period. The dethroned Emperor Xian was granted the title "Duke of
Shanyang" (山陽公). Cao Pi granted posthumous titles of emperors to his grandfather Cao Song and
his father Cao Cao, while his mother Queen Dowager Bian became empress dowager. He also moved
the imperial capital from Xuchang to Luoyang.

Military failures against Sun Quan

After news of Cao Pi's ascension (and an accompanying false rumour that Cao Pi had executed
Emperor Xian) arrived in Liu Bei's domain of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and
Chongqing), Liu Bei also declared himself emperor in 221, establishing the state of Shu Han. Sun
Quan, who controlled the vast majority of southeastern and southern China, did not take any
affirmative steps one way or another, leaving his options open.

An armed conflict between Liu Bei and Sun Quan quickly materialised, because in late 219 Sun Quan
had sent his general Lü Meng to invade Jing Province and seize the territories from Liu Bei, which
resulted in the death of Liu's general Guan Yu. To avoid having to fight on two fronts, Sun Quan
formally paid allegiance to Cao Pi, expressing his willingness to become a vassal under Wei. Cao Pi's
strategist Liu Ye suggested to reject and instead attack Sun Quan on a second front. This would
effectively partition Sun Quan's domain with Shu, and would eventually allow Cao Pi to destroy Shu
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as well. Cao Pi declined this suggestion, in a fateful choice that most

historians believe doomed his empire to ruling only the northern
and central China; such an opportunity would not come again.
Indeed, against Liu Ye's advice, Cao Pi granted Sun Quan the title
"King of Wu" (吳王) and the nine bestowments.

Sun Quan's submission did not last long. After Sun Quan's forces,
under the command of Lu Xun, defeated Shu forces at the Battle of
Xiaoting in 222, Sun Quan began to distance himself from Wei.
When Cao Pi demanded that Sun Quan send his heir apparent, Sun
Deng, to Luoyang as a hostage, Sun Quan refused and formally
broke ties with Wei. Cao Pi personally led an expedition against Sun
Quan, and in response, Sun Quan declared independence from Wei,
establishing the state of Eastern Wu (but he continued ruling as
"King of Wu" and did not declare himself emperor until 229). By
this time, having defeated Shu, the Wu forces enjoyed high morale
and effective leadership from Sun Quan, Lu Xun and a number of
other capable generals. Cao Pi's forces were not able to make A block print of Cao Pi
significant advances against them despite several large-scale attacks wearing anachronistic
in the next few years. The division of the former Han Empire into clothing.
three states has become firmly established, particularly after Liu
Bei's death in 223. The Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang, serving as
regent for Liu Bei's son and successor Liu Shan, re-established the alliance with Wu, resulting in Wei
having to defend itself on two fronts and unable to conquer either. Exasperated, Cao Pi made a
famous comment in 225 that "Heaven created the Yangtze River to divide the north and the south."[7]

Domestic matters
Cao Pi was generally viewed as a competent, but unspectacular, administrator of his empire. He
commissioned a number of capable officials to be in charge of various affairs of the empire,
employing his father's general guidelines of valuing abilities over heritage. However, he was not open
to criticism, and officials who dared to criticise him were often demoted and, on rare occasions, put to
death.

Treatment of princes

Since Cao Pi was still fearful and resentful of Cao Zhi, he soon had the latter's fief reduced in size and
had a number of his associates executed. Ding Yi, who was chief among Cao Zhi's strategists, had his
whole clan exterminated as a result of assisting the latter in the past. Cao Pi's younger brother, Cao
Xiong, was also said to have committed suicide out of fears for his brother. In summary, under
regulations established by Cao Pi, not only were the Wei princes (unlike princes of the Han dynasty)
distanced from central politics, they also had minimal authority even in their own principalities and
were restricted in many ways, particularly in the use of military force.

Treatment of officials

Cao Pi was recorded to frequently ridicule his subordinates. For example, Yu Jin was captured by Liu
Bei's general Guan Yu at the Battle of Fancheng in 219, and was later taken back to Wu and detained
there after the Wu invasion of Jing Province. Yu Jin was allowed to return to Wei after Wu briefly
became a vassal state under Wei in 221. Cao Pi reinstated Yu Jin as General Who Pacifies the Borders
( 安 遠 將 軍 ) and announced that he would send Yu Jin back to Eastern Wu – where he had been
imprisoned – as an envoy. However, before Yu Jin's departure, he was instructed to travel to Ye to
pay his respects at Cao Cao's tomb. When Yu Jin arrived, he found that the emperor had
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commissioned artists to paint, in his father's tomb, scenes of the Battle of Fancheng. These scenes
showed Yu Jin begging for his life to be spared and succumbing to the victorious Guan Yu, while his
subordinate Pang De was shown dying an honourable death by resisting the invading forces to his last
breath. Upon seeing the vivid mural, Yu Jin was so filled with regret and shame that he fell ill and
soon died. Cao Pi further gave the deceased Yu Jin a negative-sounding posthumous title, "Marquis
Li" (厲侯), for people to remember the latter as the "stony marquis (or vicious marquis)".[8] Wang
Zhong, a general who followed Cao Cao for many years, was also a subject of ridicule by Cao Pi.

Succession issues and death

An immediate issue after Cao Pi became emperor in 220 was who the empress would be. Lady Zhen
was his wife. Cao Pi summoned Lady Zhen to Luoyang, but Lady Zhen refused because of her poor
health. In 221 Lady Zhen died and the position of empress went to Guo Nüwang.

Guo Nüwang did not bear Cao Pi any children. Cao Rui was the eldest of Cao Pi's sons, but because of
his mother's death, he was not instated as the crown prince. Instead, Cao Rui was appointed "Prince
of Pingyuan" after his father's ascension to the throne. Cao Pi did not appear to have seriously
considered any other son as heir. (It might have been because the other sons were all significantly
younger, although their ages were not recorded in history.) In the summer of 226, when Cao Pi was
seriously ill, he finally named Cao Rui as his crown prince. On his deathbed, he entrusted Cao Rui to
the care of Cao Zhen, Chen Qun and Sima Yi. Following his father's death, Cao Rui ascended the
throne at the age of 21.

Family
Parents:

Cao Cao, Emperor Wu (武皇帝 曹操; 155–220)

Empress Wuxuan, of the Bian clan (武宣皇后 卞氏; 161–230)
Consorts and Issue:

Empress Wenzhao, of the Zhen clan (文昭皇后 甄氏; 183–221)

Cao Rui, Emperor Ming (明皇帝 曹叡; 204–239), first son

Princess Dong (東公主)
Empress Wende, of the Guo clan (文德皇后 郭氏; 184–235)
Guiren, of the Li clan (貴人 李氏)
Cao Xie, Prince Ai of Zan (贊哀王 曹協)
Shuyuan, of the Pan clan (淑媛 潘氏)
Cao Rui, Prince Wen'an (文安王 曹蕤; d. 233)
Shuyuan, of the Zhu clan (淑媛 朱氏)
Cao Jian, Prince Huai of Dongwuyang (東武陽懷王 曹鑑; d. 224)
Zhaoyi, of the Qiu clan (昭儀 仇氏)
Cao Lin, Prince Ding of Donghai (東海定王 曹霖; d. 250)
Lady, of the Xu clan (徐氏)

Cao Li, Prince Liang (梁王 曹禮; d. 229)

Lady, of the Su clan (蘇氏)
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Cao Yong, Prince Luyang (魯陽王 曹邕; 208–229)

Lady, of the Zhang clan (張氏)

Cao Gong, Prince Dao of Qinghe (清河悼王 曹貢; d. 223)

Lady, of the Song clan (宋氏)

Cao Yan, Prince Ai of Guangping (廣平哀王 曹儼; d. 223)

Unknown

Cao Jie (曹喈)

In popular culture
How Cao Pi became an emperor portrayed in "Secret of the Three Kingdoms" Cao Pi appears as a
playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series. He also
appears in Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms series.

See also
Cao Wei family trees
Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

References
1. de Crespigny (2007), p. 555.
2. The Sanguozhi mentioned that he was born in the winter of the fourth year of the
Zhongping era (184–189) in the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. Quote from Sanguozhi vol.
2: (中平四年冬，生于譙。)
3. The Sanguozhi mentioned that Cao Pi died on the dingsi day of the fifth lunar month in
the seventh year of the Huangchu era (220–226) in his reign. He was 40 years old (by East
Asian age reckoning) at the time of his death. Quote from Sanguozhi vol. 2: ([黃初七年五
月]丁巳，帝崩于嘉福殿，時年四十。)
4. de Crespigny (2007), p. 45.
5. de Crespigny (2007), p. xxxiii.
6. 曹丕, 典論 Cao Pi, Dianlun; the Gentlemen of the Household Rapid as Tigers [huben
zhonglang] were a corps of soldiers who served as the emperor’s bodyguards. It is
theorised that they were candidates for military appointments, though the phrasing in the
Dianlun gives one the impression that they were a permanent fixture. (http://the-scholars.
com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=23447)
7. De Crespigny, Rafe. "Online Publications" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110608020555/
http://www.anu.edu.au/asianstudies/decrespigny/gos_ch7.pdf) (PDF). Asian Studies.
Archived from the original (http://www.anu.edu.au/asianstudies/decrespigny/gos_ch7.pdf)
(PDF) on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2015. ""Alas. It is truly the will of Heaven which
divides the south from the north." And he gave the order to withdraw."
8. (暴慢無親曰厲。殺戮無辜曰厲。) There are two possibilities for someone to be given a
posthumous title as "Li": Being Cold-blooded and arrogant, or having innocent people
slaughtered. See Lost book of Zhou (https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E9%80%B8%
E5%91%A8%E6%9B%B8). Rules on assigning a posthumous name. Archived (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20110615044944/http://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E9%80%B8%E
5%91%A8%E6%9B%B8) June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

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Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).

de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms
23–220 AD. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004156050.
Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi
zhu).
Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.

Emperor Wen of Cao Wei

House of Cao
Born: 187 Died: 29 June 226

Regnal titles

Preceded by
Emperor of Cao Wei Succeeded by
Himself
220–226 Cao Rui
as King of Wei

Chinese royalty

Preceded by King of Wei Himself as Emperor of

Cao Cao 220 Wei
Titles in pretence

— TITULAR —

Preceded by
Emperor of China Succeeded by
220–226
Emperor Xian of Han Cao Rui
Reason for succession failure:
Three Kingdoms

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