Founder of Wei. Built the foundation of what would become the Jin dynasty.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Ts‘ao Ts‘ao (Mêng-tê)
Simplified Chinese: 曹操 (孟德)
Pronunciation: Cao2 Cao1 (Meng4de2)
Cantonese (Yale): Chou Chou (Maang-dak)
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Cou Cou (Maang-dak)
Min-Nan: Co Coh (Beng-tek)
Birthplace: Qiao County, Pei Commandery
(Presently Bozhou city, Anhui Province)
Other Names: Grand Progenitor (太祖; posthumous title), Martial Emperor (武帝; posthumous title), A-man (阿瞞; child name), Cao Man (曹瞞; insult), General Cao (曹將)
Name Notes: In [i]Sanguozhi[/i] Chen Shou references him with the honorary title, Wu Di (武帝), or ‘Martial Emperor’. Cao Cao appears in other sources under this name. Cao Cao’s infant name was A-Man (阿瞞).
Rank and Titles
Northern Commandant of Luoyang; Prefect of Dunqiu; Gentleman-consultant of the Imperial Court; Chief Commandant of Cavalry; Chancellor of Jinan; Grand Administrator of Dongjun; Colonel in Charge of the Army; Colonel of the Resolute Cavalry; General Who Displays Firmness; Grand Administrator of Dongjun; Governor of Yanzhou; General Who Establishes Virtue; General Who Guards the East; Marquis of Feiting; Intendant of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing; Colonel Director of Retainers; General-in-chief; Marquis of Wuping; Minister of Works; General of Chariots and Cavalry; Lieutenant-Chancellor; Duke of Wei; King of Wei; The Man
Family and Relationships
Cao Jie (Great Grandfather); Cao Teng (Grandfather); Cao Song (Father); Cao De (Brother); Lü Boshe ƒ (Uncle); Empress Bian, Lady Liu, Lady Ding (Wives); Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, Cao Xiong (Sons with Empress Bian); Cao Ang, Cao Shuo (Sons with Lady Liu); Cao Chong, Cao Ju, Cao Yu (Sons with Lady Huan); Cao Lin, Cao Gun (Sons with Lady Du); Cao Xuan, Cao Jun (Sons with Lady Qin); Cao Ju (Sons from Lady Yin); Cao Gan, Cao Shan, Cao Biao, Cao Qin, Cao Cheng, Cao Zheng, Cao Jing, Cao Jun, Cao Ji, Cao Hui, Cao Mao (Sons with Other Consorts); Cao Ren, Cao Chun, Cao Hong (Younger Cousins); Cao Anmin (Nephew); Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen (Distant Nephews); Shadow Runner (Horse)
Fact vs. Fiction
Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction
- Never presented Dong Zhuo the “Seven-Star Sword.”
- Wen Chou was killed in one of Cao Cao’s military plots.
- There is no historic mention of Cao Cao killing civilians as he marched on Tao Qian, however the massacre he left in departure is recorded.
- Cao Cao did not execute He Yi. [ZZTJ: 62]
- Became Prime Minister on the 6th month of Jian’an (AD 208). Not earlier as presented in the novel.
- Was not tricked by Pang Tong into tying his ships at Chibi. He did this himself because his soldiers were sick.
- Did not execute Zuo Ci, nor did Zuo Ci predict his death.
- Had 25 sons; far from the five mentioned in the novel.
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1–6, 10–77, 78, 79–82, 85, 88, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 99, 106, 109, 111, 114, 119, 120
Sanguozhi: Shu 1-8, Wei 1, Wei 2-30
Popular Quotation
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chapter 4
Cao Cao: “Better that I betray the world than let the world betray me.”
[操曰:宁教我负天下人,休教天下人负我。]
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chapter 59
Fighting Ma Chao, Cao Cao: “You despised me because I had no wall to my camp, but lo! in one single night, God has made me a wall. Do you not think it time to give in?”
[操曰:“汝欺我營寨不成,今一夜天使築就,汝何不早降!”]
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chapter 72
Cao Cao: “I like to kill people in my dreams, so when I fall asleep be sure not to come too close.”
Search Results
- Cao Cao (2013 TV Series)
- Date:
11/13
Replies:49
- Cao Cao’s Top 5 Generals Poll
- Date:
04/12
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- Sun Quan, Cao Cao, or Liu Bei?
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- Why Didn’t Cao Cao Learn from Guan Du?
- Date:
04/11
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- Cao Cao Favorable Editions of Romance of the Three Kingdoms
- Date:
07/10
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- Cao Cao’s Tomb is Found!
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12/09
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- Did Cao Cao Have the Strength to Defeat a United Yuan Front?
- Date:
11/09
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- Cao Cao’s Successor
- Date:
06/09
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- Cao Cao Trust Worthy?
- Date:
04/08
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- Who’s Better Sun Jian or Cao Cao?
- Date:
02/08
Replies:37
- Cao Cao Unites China
- Date:
01/08
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- Zhuge Liang and Cao Cao?
- Date:
12/07
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- View ≈47 Additional Results?
Biographies
- New Biography of Cao Cao
- Date:
08/10
Replies:52
- SGZ Biography of Cao Cao
- Date:
03/05
Replies:56
Premium External Linkage
First class external must-reads. Enjoy!
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Man from the Margin: Cao Cao and the Three Kingdoms
Exceptional essay on Cao Cao by Dr. Rafe de Crespigny.
Biography
Cao Cao, styled Mengde, was from Qiao county, Peiguo commandery. He was a son of Cao Song. Cao Song was adopted by the eunuch Cao Teng, something the enemies of Cao Cao were keen on pointing out.