Cao Pi
First emperor of Cao Wei who ended the Han dynasty.
Cao Pi (c. late 187 – 29 June 226), also known by his courtesy name Zihuan, became the founding emperor of Cao Wei, one of the three kingdoms in China's Three Kingdoms period. He was Cao Cao's second son overall but the eldest among those born to his father's concubine (later wife), Lady Bian. Historical accounts note that he made a point of being seen with court officials to win their backing, and early in his career he focused mostly on defense. After Cao Cao defeated his rival Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu, Cao Pi took Yuan Xi's wife, Lady Zhen, as a concubine. Lady Zhen died in 221, and Guo Nüwang then became empress.
On 25 November 220, Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian—the last Eastern Han ruler—to step down, and on 11 December 220 he declared himself emperor, founding Cao Wei. He kept up the wars against Shu Han and Eastern Wu, the states founded by his father's rivals Liu Bei and Sun Quan, but didn't gain much territory from those campaigns. Unlike his father, Cao Pi put more energy into internal administration than into fighting. He formally adopted Chen Qun's nine-rank system for selecting civil servants, which brought many talented people into his government. At the same time, he sharply cut the power of princes, stripping them of any ability to oppose him—but this also left them unable to help the emperor if trouble arose within the state. After his death, his successor Cao Rui gave him the posthumous name "Emperor Wen" and the temple name "Gaozu."
Cao Pi was also a skilled poet and scholar, like his father Cao Cao and his younger brother Cao Zhi. He wrote *Yan Ge Xing*, the first Chinese poem to use seven syllables per line, and produced over a hundred articles on various topics.
**Early life and career** Cao Pi was the eldest son of Cao Cao and Lady Bian, but the second among all of Cao Cao's sons (the first was Cao Ang). When Cao Pi was born, his father was a mid-level officer in the imperial guards in Luoyang, with no sign of the major campaigns he would later lead after the imperial government collapsed in 190. Cao Pi was noted as an excellent swordsman, having studied martial arts with Shi E, a gentleman from the "Rapid as Tigers" division of the imperial guards. After 190, as Cao Cao fought other warlords, it's unclear where Cao Pi and Lady Bian were or what they did. The only mention of Cao Pi from this period comes from 204: after Cao Ca
- born
- c. late 187
- died
- 29 June 226
- field
- Emperor, poet, scholar
- nationality
- Chinese (Cao Wei)
- known_for
- First emperor of Cao Wei; established nine-rank civil service system; wrote first Chinese seven-syllable-per-line poem
Lore & Background
Cao Pi was the eldest son of Cao Cao and his concubine Lady Bian, though the second among all of Cao Cao's sons. He was recorded as an excellent swordsman, having studied martial arts from Shi E. In 204, after Cao Cao conquered the city of Ye, Cao Pi took Yuan Xi's wife, Lady Zhen, as his concubine; she died in 221, and Guo Nüwang became empress. Cao Pi was appointed General of the Household for All Purposes and Vice Imperial Chancellor in 211, placing him second to his father. Despite rivalry with his younger brother Cao Zhi, who was favored for his literary talents, Cao Pi was declared heir apparent in November or December 217 after strategist Jia Xu advised Cao Cao to follow primogeniture.
Reader's Guide
Cao Pi's significance lies in his role as the founder of the Cao Wei state and his administrative reforms. He formally established Chen Qun's nine-rank system for civil service nomination, drawing many talents into his government. He also drastically reduced the power of princes, stripping them of ability to oppose him but leaving them unable to assist in a crisis. Militarily, he continued wars against Shu Han and Eastern Wu but made no significant territorial gains. He rejected advice to attack Sun Quan while the latter was vulnerable, a choice many historians believe doomed his empire to ruling only northern and central China. As a poet, he wrote Yan Ge Xing, the first Chinese poem in the style of seven syllables per line, and over a hundred articles on various subjects. His posthumous name was Emperor Wen, and his temple name was Gaozu.
Did You Know?
- Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to abdicate on 25 November 220 and proclaimed himself emperor on 11 December 220.
- He wrote Yan Ge Xing, the first Chinese poem in the style of seven syllables per line.
- He established the nine-rank system for civil service nomination during his reign.
- He studied martial arts from Shi E, a gentleman of the household from the 'Rapid as Tigers' division of the imperial guards.
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