Cao Wei

Wei
220–266
China in 262, with territories of Cao Wei in yellow
China in 262, with territories of Cao Wei in yellow
Capital
Common languagesEastern Han Chinese
Religion
Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion
GovernmentMonarchy
Emperor 
• Dec 220 – Jun 226
Cao Pi
• Jun 226 – Jan 239
Cao Rui
• Jan 239 – Oct 254
Cao Fang
• Oct 254 – Jun 260
Cao Mao
• Jun 260 – Feb 266
Cao Huan
Historical eraThree Kingdoms
• Abdication of Emperor Xian of Han
11 December 220
• Eastern Wu declaring independence from Wei
222
• Cao Wei conquers Shu Han
263
• Abdication of Cao Huan
4 February 266
Population
• 260
4,432,881 (disputed)[1][a]
CurrencyChinese coin, Chinese cash (Wu Zhu)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Eastern Han
Western Jin
Today part of
Cao Wei
Traditional Chinese曹魏
Simplified Chinese曹魏
Hanyu PinyinCáo Wèi
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinCáo Wèi
Bopomofoㄘㄠˊ ㄨㄟˋ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhTsaur Wey
Wade–GilesTsʻao2 Wei4
Tongyong PinyinCáo Wèi
Yale RomanizationTsáu Wèi
IPA[tsʰǎʊ wêɪ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationChòuh Ngaih
JyutpingCou4 ngai6
IPA[tsʰɔw˩ ŋɐj˨]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJChô Gūi
Tâi-lôTsô Guī

Wei (Chinese: [b]) was one of the major 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 dynasty. Its capital was initially located at Xuchang, and was later moved to Luoyang.

The name Wei first became associated with Cao Cao when he was named the Duke of Wei by the Eastern Han government in 213, and became the name of the state when Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor in 220. Historians often add the prefix "Cao" to distinguish it from other Chinese states known as Wei. The authority of the ruling Cao family dramatically weakened following the deposition and execution of Cao Shuang, a regent for the dynasty's third emperor Cao Fang. Beginning in 249, another regent in Sima Yi gradually consolidated state authority for himself and his relatives, with the last Wei emperors largely being puppets of the Sima family. In 266, Sima Yi's grandson Sima Yan forced Emperor Yuan to abdicate, proclaiming himself to be Emperor Wu of the newly established Jin dynasty.

  1. ^ Zou Jiwan (鄒紀萬), Zhongguo Tongshi – Weijin Nanbeichao Shi 中國通史·魏晉南北朝史, (1992).
  2. ^ Institute of Advanced Studies (December 1991). Barme, Gerome (ed.). East Asian History: THE CONTINUATION OF Papers on Far Eastern History (PDF) (Number 2 ed.). Canberra, Australia: Australian National University. pp. 149–152. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  3. ^ Tanner, Harold M. (13 March 2009). "The Age of Warriors and Buddhists". China: A History. Hackett. p. 142. When it was established, Wu had only one-sixth of the population of the Eastern Han Empire (Cao Wei held over two-thirds of the Han population).
  4. ^ Schuessler, Axel. (2009) Minimal Old Chinese and Later Han Chinese. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi. p. 291
  5. ^ BSod-nams-rgyal-mtshan; Sørensen, Per K. (1994). The Mirror Illuminating the Royal Genealogies. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 80. ISBN 3-447-03510-2.
  6. ^ Wu, Ching-hsiung, ed. (1940). T'ien Hsia Monthly. Vol. 11. Kelly and Walsh. p. 370.


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