Lady Cai (Eastern Han)

Lady Cai
蔡夫人
Personal details
SpouseLiu Biao
RelationsCai Mao (brother)
Huang Yueying (niece)
Huang Chengyan's wife (sister)
Zhang Wen's wife (aunt)
ChildrenLiu Cong (adopted son)
OccupationAristocrat

Lady Cai (蔡夫人) was a Chinese noble woman member of the Cai family of Nan Commandery during the Eastern Han period. She was the later wife of Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing province, and a sibling to Cai Mao, a prominent general in Liu Biao's service, although some sources suggest she might have been Cai Mao's elder sister.[1]

She is best known for her unwavering commitment to favoring Liu Cong over Liu Qi in the competition for the governorship of Jing Province; This event ultimately paved the way for the succession of Liu Bei as the governor of Jing, the warlord who went on to establish the state of Shu Han, one of the three prominent states that emerged during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD).

  1. ^ (后为琮娶其后妻蔡氏之侄,蔡氏遂爱琮而恶琦,毁誉之言日闻于表。表宠耽后妻,每信受焉。又妻弟蔡瑁及外甥张允并得幸于表,...) Houhanshu, vol.74, part 2