Encyclopedia: Cao Cao

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: Wu Di, A-Man

Name Notes: In Sanguozhi 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 (Uncle); Lü Boshe ƒ (Undefined 6); 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

Sanguozhi: Wei 1

Popular Quotation

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chapter 4
Cao Cao said, “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 said, “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 said, “I like to kill people in my dreams, so when I fall asleep be sure not to come too close.”

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First class external must-reads. Enjoy!

• Man from the Margin: Cao Cao and the Three Kingdoms
  Exceptional essay on Cao Cao by Dr. Rafe de Crespigny.