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Cao Cao
Eastern Han chancellor who reunified the north from his base at Xu, laid the foundations of Cao Wei, and wrote yuefu poems such as Short Song
Mural of Gazing Across the Vast Sea, a work by this person.
Cao Cao stands on the Jieshi shore facing a vast autumn sea, with island trees and waves beneath a sky of sun and stars. The elemental coast mirrors the poem’s commanding ambition.
Also known as Zi Mengde · Weiwu Di
Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, came from Qiao in Pei (modern Bozhou, Anhui); his father Cao Song was the adopted son of the eunuch Cao Teng. Recommended as filial and incorrupt at twenty, he fought the Yellow Turbans in 184 and raised troops against Dong Zhuo in 190. In 196 he brought Emperor Xian to Xu, in 200 he defeated Yuan Shao at Guandu and then took the north, and in 208 he became chancellor, only to be beaten at Red Cliff that winter by the allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei. He set up military farming colonies, issued edicts seeking talent, became Duke and then King of Wei, annotated the Art of War (Sunzi bingfa), and wrote yuefu poems such as Short Song. He died at Luoyang in 220; when his son Cao Pi ended the Han, he was named Emperor Wu with the temple name Taizu. Zhong Rong's Grading of Poets (Shipin) ranked him in its lowest grade but noted his plain, mournful lines.
Life and times
Dates 155 CE–220 CE
- 195Cai Wenji Returns to HanTook partage 40
- 200Battle of GuanduTook partage 45
- 200Baima Victory and Xu You's Defectionage 45
- 200Cao Cao's Raid Burns Wuchao Grainage 45
- 207Cao Cao Defeats Wuhuan at Bailangage 52
- 208Battle of Red CliffsTook partage 53
- 208Red Cliffs Fire Defeats Cao Caoage 53
- 208Zhuge Liang Forges the Sun-Liu Allianceage 53
- 208Cao Cao Ransoming Cai Wenji Homeage 53