This article contains the family trees of members of the Cao clan, who ruled the state of
(220–265) in the
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty and wa ...
period (220–280) in
China. Only
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
's lineage is shown in this article. The lineages of his relatives, such as
Cao Ren
Cao Ren () (168 – 6 May 223), courtesy name Zixiao, was a military general serving during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China under the warlord Cao Cao, who was also his older second cousin. He continued serving in the state of Cao Wei – ...
,
Cao Zhen and others, are not included here.
Cao Song
Cao Song was a foster son of the
eunuch
A eunuch ( ) is a male who has been castration, castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function.
The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2n ...
Cao Teng
Cao Teng (died late 150s), courtesy name Jixing, was a eunuch who lived during the Eastern Han dynasty of China. He served four Han emperors (Shun, Chong, Zhi, and Huan). Through his adopted son Cao Song, he was the grandfather of Cao Cao, wh ...
and he had at least four sons:
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
, Cao Bin, Cao De, and a fourth one whose personal name was not recorded and was only known by his posthumous title "Marquis Ai of Haiyang". The marquis's daughter married
Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan () (died 219), courtesy name Miaocai, was a Chinese military general and politician serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He is known for his exploits in western China (in parts of present-day ...
's eldest son Xiahou Heng.
Cao Cao, his wives, and his children
Lady Bian
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
and
Lady Bian had four sons:
Cao Pi
Cao Pi () ( – 29 June 226), courtesy name Zihuan, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the second son of Cao Cao, a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty, but the eldest son ...
,
Cao Zhang,
Cao Zhi
Cao Zhi (; ; 192 – 27 December 232), courtesy name Zijian (), posthumously known as Prince Si of Chen (陈思王), was a prince of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China, and an accomplished poet in his time. His style o ...
and
Cao Xiong.
Cao Xiong was succeeded by his son Cao Bing. Cao Bing had no heir.
Cao Zhang
Cao Zhang married
Sun Ben's daughter (personal name unknown).
Cao Zhang's son was Cao Kai. Cao Zhang also had a daughter (personal name unknown) who married Wang Chang. It is not known whether Cao Zhang's two children were born to Lady Sun (Sun Ben's daughter) or not.
Cao Zhi
Cao Zhi married the daughter of
Cui Yan
Cui Yan (165–216), courtesy name Jigui, was a Chinese politician serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. In his early life, he served briefly in the local district office before leaving home to study und ...
's elder brother. He had two sons — Cao Miao and Cao Zhi (courtesy name "Yungong"). He also had two daughters — Cao Jinhu and Cao Xingnü. It is not known whether Cao Zhi's four children were born to Lady Cui or not.
Lady Liu
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
and Lady Liu had two sons and a daughter:
Cao Ang
Cao Ang () ( 177 – February or March 197), courtesy name Zixiu, was the eldest son of Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power towards the end of the Han dynasty and laid the foundation of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China ...
,
Cao Shuo
Cao Shuo (born October 8, 1991) is a Chinese track and field athlete who specialises in the triple jump. He was born in Hebei.* His personal bests were both set in 2012, outdoors, his personal best is 17.35 m, while his indoor personal best is 1 ...
and Princess Qinghe (personal name unknown). Princess Qinghe married
Xiahou Dun's son
Xiahou Mao.
Cao Ang's successor was Cao Wan, a son of his half-brother Cao Jun (曹均). Cao Wan's son was Cao Lian. Cao Shuo's successor was Cao Song, a son of his half-brother Cao Mao (曹茂).
Lady Huan
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
and Lady Huan had three sons:
Cao Chong
Cao Chong (196–208), courtesy name Cangshu, was a son of Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power towards the end of the Han dynasty and laid the foundation of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. A child prodigy, Cao Cho ...
,
Cao Ju and
Cao Yu
Cao Yu (, September 24, 1910 — December 13, 1996) was a Chinese playwright, often regarded as one of China's most important of the 20th century. His best-known works are ''Thunderstorm'' (1933), ''Sunrise'' (1936) and ''Peking Man'' (1940). ...
.
Cao Chong's successor was Cao Cong, a son of his brother Cao Ju. Cao Yu's son was
Cao Huan
Cao Huan () (245/246–302/303), courtesy name Jingming, was the fifth and last emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. On 4 February 266, he abdicated the throne in favour of Sima Yan (later Emperor Wu of the Jin dy ...
. Cao Huan married Bian Lin's daughter
Empress Bian. Bian Lin was a son of Bian Bing, a younger brother of
Lady Bian (another of Cao Cao's wives).
Lady Du
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
and Lady Du had two sons:
Cao Lin and
Cao Gun. Lady Du and her ex-husband
Qin Yilu
Qin Yilu (died 199) was a military officer who served under the general and warlord Lü Bu in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Allowing for variant writing in the records, Qin Yilu was probably the same person as two others named Qin Yi (� ...
had a son,
Qin Lang, who was adopted by Cao Cao after his mother's remarriage.
Cao Gun's son was Cao Fu. Cao Lin had a son (Cao Wei) and a daughter (personal name unknown). The daughter married
Ji Kang.
Lady Qin
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
and Lady Qin had two sons:
Cao Xuan and
Cao Jun.
Cao Xuan's successor was Cao Zan, a son of his half-brother
Cao Lin. Cao Zan's successor was his younger brother Cao Yi. Cao Yi's son was Cao Heng.
Cao Jun's son was Cao Ao.
Lady Yin
Cao Cao and Lady Yin had a son:
Cao Ju. Lady Yin and her ex-husband He Xian, a son of
He Jin, had a son,
He Yan, who was adopted by Cao Cao after his mother's remarriage. He Yan married Cao Cao's daughter Princess Jinxiang (personal name unknown).
[(魏末傳曰:晏婦金鄉公主,即晏同母妹。公主賢,謂其母沛王太妃曰:「晏為惡日甚,將何保身?」母笑曰:「汝得無妬晏邪!」) ''Wei Mo Zhuan'' annotation in ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 9.]
Cao Ju's successor was Cao Min, a son of his half-brother Cao Jun (曹均). Cao Min's son was Cao Kun.
Consort Sun
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
and Consort Sun had three sons:
Cao Zishang,
Cao Ziqin and
Cao Biao.
Both Cao Zishang and Cao Ziqin died without heirs. Cao Biao was succeeded by his son Cao Jia.
Consort Li
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
and Consort Li had three sons:
Cao Zicheng,
Cao Zizheng and
Cao Zijing.
Both Cao Zicheng and Cao Zijing died without heirs. Cao Zizheng's successor was Cao Fan, a son of his half-brother Cao Ju (曹據). Cao Fan was succeeded by his younger brother Cao Chan.
Cao Cao's other wives and children
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
had five other sons who were born to five different mothers: Consort Zhou bore
Cao Jun; Consort Liu bore
Cao Ziji; Consort Song bore
Cao Hui
Cao Hui (, born 7 September 1991) is a Chinese female recurve archer and part of the national team and Liaoning team.
She won the bronze medal at the 2015 Asian Archery Championships in the women's team event.
She represented China at the 2 ...
; Consort Zhao bore
Cao Mao; Lady Chen bore
Cao Gan. Cao Cao also had two other wives: Lady Wang, who raised Cao Gan after Lady Chen's death; Lady Ding, who raised
Cao Ang
Cao Ang () ( 177 – February or March 197), courtesy name Zixiu, was the eldest son of Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power towards the end of the Han dynasty and laid the foundation of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China ...
after the death of Lady Liu (Cao Ang's biological mother). Cao Cao also had four daughters whose mothers were not known: Cao Xian,
Cao Jie, Cao Hua and Princess Anyang (personal name unknown). Cao Xian, Cao Jie and Cao Hua married Liu Xie (
Emperor Xian of Han) while Princess Anyang married Xun Yu's son Xun Yun.
Cao Ziji died without an heir. Cao Jun was succeeded by his son Cao Kang, who in turn was succeeded by his son Cao Chen. Cao Hui was succeeded by his son Cao Xi. Cao Xi's son was Cao Kun.
Cao Pi, his wives, and his children
Lady Zhen
Cao Pi
Cao Pi () ( – 29 June 226), courtesy name Zihuan, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the second son of Cao Cao, a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty, but the eldest son ...
and
Lady Zhen
Lady Zhen (26 January 183 – 4 August 221), personal name unknown, was the first wife of Cao Pi, the first ruler of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period. In 226, she was posthumously honoured as Empress Wenzhao when her son, Cao ...
had a son and a daughter:
Cao Rui and Princess Dongxiang (personal name unknown).
Consort Xu
Cao Pi
Cao Pi () ( – 29 June 226), courtesy name Zihuan, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the second son of Cao Cao, a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty, but the eldest son ...
and Consort Xu had a son:
Cao Li
Cao Li (208 – May or June 229) was a prince in the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was a son of Cao Pi, the first emperor of Wei. His mother, Consort Xu (徐姬), was a concubine of Cao Pi. He had two full sisters ...
. Cao Li's successor was Cao Ti, a son of his cousin Cao Kai (
Cao Zhang's son).
Ladies Pan, Zhu, and Qiu
Three of Cao Pi's wives: Lady Pan, Lady Zhu and Lady Qiu - bore him children as such: Lady Pan bore
Cao Rui; Lady Zhu bore
Cao Jian; Lady Qiu bore
Cao Lin.
Cao Rui's successor was Cao Zan, a son of Cao Min,
Cao Ju's heir and Prince of Langya. Cao Jian had no heir.
[(無子。國除。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 20.] Cao Lin had two sons: Cao Qi and
Cao Mao. Cao Mao married
Empress Bian, Bian Long's daughter. Bian Long was Bian Lan's son, Bian Lan was Bian Bing's son. Bian Bing was a younger brother of Cao Pi's mother
Lady Bian.
Consorts Li, Su, Zhang, and Song
Four of
Cao Pi
Cao Pi () ( – 29 June 226), courtesy name Zihuan, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the second son of Cao Cao, a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty, but the eldest son ...
's wives – Consorts Li, Su, Zhang and Song – bore him children as such: Consort Li bore
Cao Xie; Consort Su bore
Cao Yong
Cao Yong (; born June 9, 1962, in Xinxian, Henan, China) was a Chinese artist whose work depicts Tibet. He spent a year alone in the mountains of Tibet and the paintings he produced were exhibited in Beijing in early 1989. He was subsequently ...
; Consort Zhang bore
Cao Gong; Consort Song bore
Cao Yan.
Cao Xie's son was Cao Xun. Cao Yong's successor was Cao Wen, a son of his cousin Cao Kai (
Cao Zhang's son). Both Cao Gong
and Cao Yan
died without heirs.
Cao Pi's other wives and children
Cao Pi had seven other wives: the two Ladies Liu, Consort Yin, Consort Chai, Lady Ren, Lady Li and
Guo Nüwang
Guo Nüwang (8 April 184According to the ''Book of Wei'' by Wang Chen et al., Lady Guo was born on the ''yimao'' day of the 3rd month of the 1st year of the ''Zhongping'' era during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. This corresponds to 8 April 1 ...
.
[(黃初元年十月,帝踐阼。踐阼之後,山陽公奉二女以嬪于魏,郭后、李、陰貴人並愛幸, ...) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 5.] The two Ladies Liu were the daughters of Liu Xie (
Emperor Xian of Han).
Guo Nüwang was the daughter of Guo Yong and Lady Dong.
Cao Pi had a son, Cao Jie. The identity of Cao Jie's mother is not known.
Cao Rui
Cao Rui had five wives:
Empress Mao,
Empress Guo, Lady Zhang,
[(初,張當私以所擇才人張、何等與爽。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 9.] Lady He
and Lady Yu. Empress Mao was Mao Jia's daughter and she had a younger brother, Mao Zeng. Empress Guo was the daughter of Guo Man and Lady Du.
Cao Rui had three sons (Cao Jiong, Cao Mu and Cao Yin) and two daughters (Cao Shu and the First Princess of Qi). The First Princess of Qi (personal name unknown) married
Li Feng's son Li Tao (李韜) initially, but was later remarried to
Ren Kai.
Cao Rui also had two adoptive sons:
Cao Fang
Cao Fang () (232–274), courtesy name Lanqing, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was an adopted son of Cao Rui, the second ruler of Wei. Cao Fang ruled from 239 to 254 as a nominal emperor ...
and
Cao Xun
Cao Xun (231 – September or October 244) was an imperial prince of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was an adopted son of Cao Rui, the second emperor of Wei. While the identities of his parents are unknown, Cao ...
, who were allegedly the sons of
Cao Zhang's son, Cao Kai (曹楷).
Cao Fang
Cao Fang
Cao Fang () (232–274), courtesy name Lanqing, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was an adopted son of Cao Rui, the second ruler of Wei. Cao Fang ruled from 239 to 254 as a nominal emperor ...
had eight wives:
Empress Zhen, a granddaughter of Zhen Yan (
Lady Zhen
Lady Zhen (26 January 183 – 4 August 221), personal name unknown, was the first wife of Cao Pi, the first ruler of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period. In 226, she was posthumously honoured as Empress Wenzhao when her son, Cao ...
's elder brother);
Empress Zhang, a daughter of
Zhang Ji (Jingzhong);
Empress Wang, Wang Kui's daughter; Lady Zhang;
[(甄后崩後,帝欲立王貴人為皇后。 ... 後卒待張皇后疏薄。太后遭郃陽君喪,帝日在後園,倡優音樂自若,不數往定省。 ... 皇太后還北宮,殺張美人及禺婉,帝恚望, ...) ''Wei Shu'' annotation in ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 4.] Lady Xing, who later remarried
Sun Huan's son Sun Yi (孫壹);
[(魏以壹為車騎將軍、儀同三司,封吳侯,以故主芳貴人邢氏妻之。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 51.] Li Hua,
[(於陵雲臺曲中施帷,見九親婦女,帝臨宣曲觀,呼懷、信使入帷共飲酒。懷、信等更行酒,婦女皆醉,戲侮無別。使保林李華、劉勳等與懷、信等戲,清商令令狐景呵華、 ...) ''Wei Shu'' annotation in ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 4.] Liu Xun;
Yuwan.
See also
*
Eastern Wu family trees
This article contains the family trees of members of the Sun clan, who ruled the state of Eastern Wu (229–280), in the Three Kingdoms period (220–280), in China.
Sun Jian, Sun Qiang and Sun Jing
Sun Jian was an alleged descendant o ...
*
Shu Han family trees This article contains the family trees of members of the Liu clan, who ruled the state of Shu Han (221-263) in the Three Kingdoms period (220-280) in China. They were related to the House of Liu, the imperial clan of the Han dynasty.
Liu Bei's anc ...
*
Family tree of Sima Yi
References
{{reflist
*
Chen, Shou. ''
Records of the Three Kingdoms
The ''Records or History of the Three Kingdoms'', also known by its Chinese name as the Sanguo Zhi, is a Chinese historical text which covers the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty (c. 184–220 AD) and the Three Kingdoms period (220� ...
'' (''Sanguozhi'').
*
Fan, Ye. ''
Book of the Later Han
The ''Book of the Later Han'', also known as the ''History of the Later Han'' and by its Chinese name ''Hou Hanshu'' (), is one of the Twenty-Four Histories and covers the history of the Han dynasty from 6 to 189 CE, a period known as the Lat ...
'' (''Houhanshu'').
*
Fang, Xuanling. ''
Book of Jin
The ''Book of Jin'' is an official Chinese historical text covering the history of the Jin dynasty from 266 to 420. It was compiled in 648 by a number of officials commissioned by the imperial court of the Tang dynasty, with chancellor Fang X ...
'' (''Jin Shu'').
*
Pei, Songzhi. ''
Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms
Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms () by Pei Songzhi (372-451) is an annotation completed in the 5th century of the 3rd century historical text '' Records of the Three Kingdoms'', compiled by Chen Shou. After leaving his native land, P ...
'' (''Sanguozhi zhu'').
Cao Wei
Dynasty genealogy