Cao Zhi ( zh, , s=曹志, t=曹志; died 288), courtesy name Yungong (允恭), posthumously known as Duke Ding of Juancheng (鄄城定公), was a son of

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 ...

, Prince Si of Chen, and his unnamed concubine, and a grandson of

Cao Cao Cao Cao (; ; ; 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord, and poet who rose to power during the end of the Han dynasty (), ultimately taking effective control of the Han central government. He laid the foundation f ...

. Besides his heritage, Cao Zhi was best known for his friendship with Sima Yan (

Emperor Wu of Jin Emperor Wu of Jin (; 236 – 16 May 290), personal name Sima Yan (), courtesy name Anshi (安世), was a grandson of Sima Yi, nephew of Sima Shi and son of Sima Zhao. He became the first emperor of the Jin dynasty (266–420), Jin dynasty a ...

), and his support of

Sima You Sima You (; 246 – 27 April 283), courtesy name Dayou (大猷), posthumously known as Prince Xian of Qi (齐献王), was an imperial prince of the Western Jin dynasty of China. He was the second son of Sima Zhao, a regent of the Cao Wei state ...

remaining in the capital to help in the administration of the empire, against Yan's wishes.

Background and life under Cao Wei

Cao Zhi was born in an unknown year to Cao Zijian and his unnamed concubine. At a young age, Zhi was studious and well known for his literary talents; he was also skilled in riding and archery. His father made him heir and praised him, "This shall be the protector of our clan." At some point, the Wei court granted Zhi the title of Duke of Mu Village (穆乡公), and his brother Cao Miao (曹苗) Duke of Gaoyang Village (高阳乡公); Cao Zijian wrote a memorial to thank the imperial court for the grants. When Cao Zijian died in December 232, Cao Zhi inherited his peerage as Prince of Chen; he was later appointed Prince of Jibei. During the ''Jingchu'' era (237–239) of

Cao Rui Cao Rui () (204 or 205 – 22 January 239), courtesy name Yuanzhong, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. His parentage is in dispute: his mother, Lady Zhen, was Yuan Xi's wife, but she later remarr ...

's reign, Cao Zijian was posthumously rehabilitated, and his literary works were allowed to be compiled and stored. Cao Zhi's fiefdom was also expanded to 990 households. Despite his father's hopes, historical records did not indicate Cao Zhi's involvement in protecting the Cao clan from the Sima clan after the death of Cao Rui, the last Cao Wei ruler who wielded real power, in January 239. In February 249,

Sima Yi Sima Yi (; ; 179 CE7 September 251 CE), courtesy name Zhongda, was a Chinese military general, politician, and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He formally began his political career in 208 under th ...

became sole regent of the state of

Cao Wei Wei () was one of the major Dynasties in Chinese history, dynastic states in China during the Three Kingdoms period. The state was established in 220 by Cao Pi based upon the foundations laid by his father Cao Cao during the end of the Han dy ...

after he overthrew

Cao Shuang Cao Shuang (died 9 February 249), courtesy name Zhaobo, was a Chinese military general and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the eldest son of Cao Zhen, a prominent general of Cao Wei. He initially ...

in a coup. After Yi's death in September 251, his sons

Sima Shi Sima Shi () (208 – 23 March 255), courtesy name Ziyuan, was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. In February 249, he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang's regent Cao S ...

and

Sima Zhao Sima Zhao () (; 211 – 6 September 265), courtesy name Zishang (子上), was a Chinese military general, politician, and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Sima Zhao capably maintained control of Wei, whi ...

also became regents of Cao Wei. In June 260, after

Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao, also known as the Ganlu Incident ( Chinese: 甘露之變), occurred on 2 June 260 in Luoyang, the capital of the state of Cao Wei, during the Three Kingdoms period. Cao Mao, the nominal emperor of Wei, attempte ...

, Zhao's son Sima Yan was ordered to receive the new emperor

Cao Huan Cao Huan () (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 regent Sima Yan (later Emperor Wu of the J ...

g at Yecheng. Cao Zhi went to visit Sima Yan at night; the two's conversations lasted until the next morning, and Sima Yan was deeply impressed by Cao Zhi. Less than six years after their meeting, on 4 February 266, Sima Yan forced Cao Huan (Cao Huang after changing his name) to abdicate. Five days later, Cao Huan was appointed Prince of Chenliu, while the former princes of Cao Wei were demoted to marquesses.

During Emperor Wu's reign

As Duke of Juancheng, Cao Zhi held several positions, including stints as administrator at Leping, Zhangwu and Zhao Commanderies. Cao Zhi was once asked by Sima Yan if the treatise "Liu Dai Lun" (六代论) was authored by his father. Zhi replied that the bibliography of his father's works should be consulted. When the treatise was not listed in the bibliography, Sima Yan asked about the author's identity; Zhi replied that the actual author was his clan elder Cao Jiong (曹冏), who attributed the treatise to Zijian due to the latter's fame. Sima Yan then declared the authorship matter closed. In February or March 283, Sima Yan ordered the court to discuss about ordering his brother

, the Prince of Qi, to leave the capital Luoyang for his fiefdom. Many officials, including Cao Zhi, opposed the motion. In particular, probably due to his father's rejection by Cao Rui, Cao Zhi was vehement in his opposition. When Sima Yan read Cao Zhi's memorial, he exclaimed in anger, "If even Cao Zhi could not understand my intentions, what more the others from across the

Four Seas The Four Seas () were four bodies of water that metaphorically made up the boundaries of ancient China. There is a sea for each for the four cardinal directions. The West Sea is Qinghai Lake, the East Sea is the East China Sea, the North Sea is ...

?" He then ordered the officials who had voiced their opposition to be put on trial. However, for Cao Zhi, he was merely relieved of his posts and sent back to his residence. Soon after being sent back to his residence, Cao Zhi's mother died. In his mourning and grief, Cao Zhi became ill and unpredictable in his emotions. After his death in 288, there were discussions about giving him an unflattering posthumous name. An official named Cui Bao (崔褒), citing the story of Wei Ke (魏颗), opposed the motion. Eventually, Cao Zhi's posthumous name became "Ding".(顷之，志复为散骑常侍。遭母忧，居丧过礼，因此笃病，喜怒失常。 ��康��年卒，太常奏以恶谥。崔褒叹曰：“魏颗不从乱，以病为乱故也。今谥曹志而谥其病，岂谓其病不为乱乎！”于是谥为定。) ''Jin Shu'', vol.50

Background and life under Cao Wei

During Emperor Wu's reign

Notes

References

Further reading