Personages of the Three Kingdoms

Cao Cao (155 – 220), whose name is also often transliterated and should be correctly pronounced as Ts'ao Ts'ao, was a regional warlord and the last Chancellor of Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty in ancient China. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid down foundations for what was to become Cao Wei and was posthumously titled Emperor Wu of Wei (魏武帝). Although generally characterized as a cruel and suspicious character in the ...

Including:

• Cao Cao - Life
• Cao Cao - Early life
• Cao Cao - Alliance against Dong Zhuo
• Cao Cao - The three kingdoms
• Cao Cao - Major battles
• Cao Cao - Battle of Yanzhou
• Cao Cao - Battle of Guandu
• Cao Cao - Battle of Red Cliffs
• Cao Cao - Other contributions
• Cao Cao - Agriculture and education
• Cao Cao - Poetry
• Cao Cao - Cao Cao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
• Cao Cao - Escape from Dong Zhuo
• Cao Cao - Escape through Huarong Trail
• Cao Cao - Death of Cao Cao and Hua Tuo
• Cao Cao - Cao Cao in opera
• Cao Cao - The Cao clan
• Cao Cao - Direct male descendants
• Cao Cao - Extended family
• Cao Cao - Reference

Read more here: » Cao Cao: Encyclopedia - Cao Cao

Liu Shan - Zhuge Liang's regency. During the early years of his reign, Liu Shan was not an unwise ruler. While Zhuge Liang was alive, Liu Shan treated him as a father, allowing the chancellor to handle all state affairs. Zhuge Liang recommended many trusted officials, including Guo Youzhi (郭攸之), Fei Yi (費禕), Dong Yun (董允) and Xiang Chong (向寵) into key positions. Also under Zhuge's advice, Liu Shan entered into an alliance with Eastern Wu, helping both states to survive against the much larger Ca ...

See also:

Liu Shan, Liu Shan - Early life, Liu Shan - Reign, Liu Shan - Zhuge Liang's regency, Liu Shan - Jiang Wan's regency, Liu Shan - Fei Yi's regency, Liu Shan - Jiang Wei's semi-regency, Liu Shan - Shu Han's destruction, Liu Shan - Life after Shu Han's destruction, Liu Shan - Liu Shan in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Shan - Battle of Changban, Liu Shan - Zhao Yun rescues A Dou from Lady Sun, Liu Shan - Personal information, Liu Shan - Reference

Read more here: » Liu Shan: Encyclopedia II - Liu Shan - Reign

Liu Bei - Early life. Born in the prefecture of Zhuo (涿, present day Zhuozhou, Hebei), Liu Bei was a descendant of Liu Sheng, one of the sons of Emperor Jing. However, after generations Liu Bei was no longer closely related to the ruling family of the Han Dynasty. He lost his father when he was still a child and, together with his mother, sold shoes and straw-woven mats for a living. At fourteen, Liu Bei was sent to study under Lu Zhi, a scholar and governor of Jiujiang. There he met and befriended Gongsun Zan, who was also a pupil of Lu Zhi and later bec ...

See also:

Liu Bei, Liu Bei - Life, Liu Bei - Early life, Liu Bei - Beginning of civil war, Liu Bei - Settling down in Jingzhou, Liu Bei - Entry into Yizhou, Liu Bei - Kingdom of Shu, Liu Bei - Major battles, Liu Bei - Battle of Red Cliffs, Liu Bei - Battle of Yiling, Liu Bei - Liu Bei in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei - Sworn brotherhood in the garden of peach blossoms, Liu Bei - General worship of Liu Bei, Liu Bei - Modern portrayal, Liu Bei - Video and computer games, Liu Bei - Personal information, Liu Bei - Notes

Read more here: » Liu Bei: Encyclopedia II - Liu Bei - Life

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. It painted Lü Bu as an unbeatable warrior in duels but an incapable leader of armies, being further marred with character flaws. While staying true to history in the general course of events, Luo Guanzhong exaggerated or sentimentalised many stories about Lü Bu, drawing inspirations from a wide array of folklore and traditional operas. These stories incl ...

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Lü Bu, Lü Bu - Life, Lü Bu - Services under Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu - Days of exile, Lü Bu - Occupation of Xuzhou, Lü Bu - Lü Bu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu - Defection to Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu - Battle with three heroes at Hu Lao Pass, Lü Bu - Slaying of Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu - Lü Bu's downfall, Lü Bu - Other, Lü Bu - Reference

Read more here: » Lü Bu: Encyclopedia II - Lü Bu - Lü Bu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

A local of the county of Qu (胊, present day Linqu County, Shandong), Mi Fang was born in an extremely rich merchant family. His elder brother Mi Zhu initially served under Tao Qian (陶謙), governor of Xuzhou (徐州, present day northern Jiangsu). Upon his death, Tao Qian passed on the governorship to Liu Bei, to whom Mi Zhu thereafter rendered his service. The rival warlord Cao Cao once attempted to entice Mi Zhu and Mi Fang to defect by offering them governorships of Ying Commandery (嬴郡, northwest of present day Laiwu, Shandong) and Pengcheng r ...

See also:

Mi Fang, Mi Fang - Life, Mi Fang - Mi Fang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Mi Fang - Reference

Read more here: » Mi Fang: Encyclopedia II - Mi Fang - Life

Pang De initially served under Ma Teng, a warlord occupying northwestern China. He participated in many campaigns, during which he displayed extraordinary valor. After Ma Teng died in 211, his son Ma Chao launched an offensive against Cao Cao but ultimately lost. Pang De then followed Ma Chao to Hanzhong, where the latter submitted to the governor Zhang Lu (张鲁). After Cao Cao took down Hanzhong, Ma Chao left to seek service under Liu Bei. Pang De, however, surrendered to Cao Cao together with many others. Well aware of Pang De's valiance in battle, Cao Cao made ...

See also:

Pang De, Pang De - Life, Pang De - Pang De in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Pang De - Reference

Read more here: » Pang De: Encyclopedia II - Pang De - Life

Sun Ce - Early life and career. Born in 175, Sun Ce was the eldest among four sons of Sun Jian, a military general loyal to the emperor of the Han Dynasty. In 190, a year after Emperor Ling died, the warlord Dong Zhuo usurped power, placing in the throne the puppet Emperor Xian. Regional warlords in eastern China then formed a coalition against Dong Zhuo. Sun Jian rendered his service to Yuan Shu, one of the leaders of the coalition. The attempt to oust Dong Zhuo soon failed and China slid into a series of massiv ...

See also:

Sun Ce, Sun Ce - Life, Sun Ce - Early life and career, Sun Ce - A kingdom's beginning, Sun Ce - Late life, Sun Ce - Dispute over cause of death, Sun Ce - Miscellaneous, Sun Ce - Dynasty Warriors, Sun Ce - Notes, Sun Ce - Reference

Read more here: » Sun Ce: Encyclopedia II - Sun Ce - Life

In Chapter 19 of the 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, Song Xian's close friend and colleague Hou Cheng was said to have been spanked at the order of Lü Bu for breaking the liquor ban. The disgruntled man then plotted with Song Xian and Wei Xu to betray Lü Bu to Cao Cao. Under the cover of the night Hou Cheng stole Lü Bu's powerful steed Red Hare and galloped out of the city towards Cao Cao's camp. The next morning, Cao Cao's troops launched a fierce attack. Lü Bu had to personall ...

See also:

Song Xian, Song Xian - Song Xian in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Song Xian - Reference

Read more here: » Song Xian: Encyclopedia II - Song Xian - Song Xian in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Cao Cao - Early life. Cao Cao was born in the county of Qiao (譙, present day Bozhou, Anhui) in 155. His father Cao Song (曹嵩) was a foster son of Cao Teng (曹騰), who in turn was one of the favorite eunuchs of Emperor Huan. Some historical records, including Biography of Cao Man, claim that Cao Song was originally surnamed Xiahou (thus making Cao Cao a cousin of Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, two ...

See also:

Cao Cao, Cao Cao - Life, Cao Cao - Early life, Cao Cao - Alliance against Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao - The three kingdoms, Cao Cao - Major battles, Cao Cao - Battle of Yanzhou, Cao Cao - Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao - Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao - Other contributions, Cao Cao - Agriculture and education, Cao Cao - Poetry, Cao Cao - Cao Cao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao - Escape from Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao - Escape through Huarong Trail, Cao Cao - Death of Cao Cao and Hua Tuo, Cao Cao - Cao Cao in opera, Cao Cao - The Cao clan, Cao Cao - Direct male descendants, Cao Cao - Extended family, Cao Cao - Reference

Read more here: » Cao Cao: Encyclopedia II - Cao Cao - Life

While little was known about Hua Xiong from historical records, his character was given more significance in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In Chapter 5, as warlords around the country formed a coalition against Dong Zhuo, Hua Xiong was placed at Sishui Pass to ward off the attack. Having singlehandedly slain four generals of the coalition – Bao Zhong (鲍忠), Zu Mao (祖茂), Yu She (俞涉) and Pan Feng (潘凤) – Hua Xiong seemed indomitable. Despite mistrust from many warlords of the coalition, Gua ...

See also:

Hua Xiong, Hua Xiong - Hua Xiong in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Hua Xiong - Reference

Read more here: » Hua Xiong: Encyclopedia II - Hua Xiong - Hua Xiong in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a 14th century historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms period. Incorporating Chinese folklore, the author gave Guan Xing's character much more significance. In Chapter 81, Guan Xing was said to have competed with Zhang Bao, son of Zhang Fei, over the commandership of the vanguard force to attack the Kingdom of Wu to avenge their fathers. Liu Bei, emperor of the Kingdom of Shu, then bade them to swear to be brothe ...

See also:

Guan Xing, Guan Xing - Guan Xing in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Guan Xing - Reference

Read more here: » Guan Xing: Encyclopedia II - Guan Xing - Guan Xing in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Cao Cao - Early life. Cao Cao was born in the county of Qiao (譙, present day Bozhou, Anhui) in 155. His father Cao Song (曹嵩) was a foster son of Cao Teng (曹騰), who in turn was one of the favorite eunuchs of Emperor Huan. Some historical records, including Biography of Cao Man, claim that Cao Song was originally surnamed Xiahou (thus making Cao Cao a cousin of Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, two of his most prominent generals). In Romance of the Three Kingdoms , it states that Cao Cao's father was origianlly a Xiahou and ...

See also:

Cao Cao, Cao Cao - Life, Cao Cao - Early life, Cao Cao - Alliance against Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao - The three kingdoms, Cao Cao - Major battles, Cao Cao - Battle of Yanzhou, Cao Cao - Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao - Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao - Other contributions, Cao Cao - Agriculture and education, Cao Cao - Poetry, Cao Cao - Cao Cao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao - Escape from Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao - Escape through Huarong Trail, Cao Cao - Death of Cao Cao and Hua Tuo, Cao Cao - Cao Cao in opera, Cao Cao - The Cao clan, Cao Cao - Direct male descendants, Cao Cao - Extended family, Cao Cao - Reference

Read more here: » Cao Cao: Encyclopedia II - Cao Cao - Life

Dong Zhuo - Early life. Born in Lintao (临洮) of the Longxi Commandery (陇西), Dong Zhuo was said to be full of chilvary in his youth. Travelling widely in the Qiang region, he made friends with many a gallant man. Being both resourceful and physically adept, Dong Zhuo later participated in the campaign against Qiang rebels in Bingzhou (并州). For his excellent performance Dong Zhuo was rewarded with 9,000 rolls of fine silk, all of which he distributed t ...

See also:

Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhuo - Life, Dong Zhuo - Early life, Dong Zhuo - Rise to power, Dong Zhuo - Move to Chang'an, Dong Zhuo - Downfall, Dong Zhuo - Dong Zhuo in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Dong Zhuo - Dong Zhuo and the three brothers, Dong Zhuo - Dong Zhuo and Diao Chan, Dong Zhuo - Reference

Read more here: » Dong Zhuo: Encyclopedia II - Dong Zhuo - Life

Guo Jia was born in the county of Yangdi (阳翟, present day Yuzhou, Henan). He initially sought a position under Yuan Shao, the most powerful warlord in northern China at that time. However, he judged Yuan Shao to be an indecisive man who did not know how to fully exploit talented people. Thinking that the warlord had little hope of achieving great things, Guo Jia then left. In 196, Guo Jia was recommended to Cao Cao by Xun Yu. After a discussion about the state of China at that time, both found each other likable. Cao Cao then ma ...

See also:

Guo Jia, Guo Jia - Life, Guo Jia - Reference

Read more here: » Guo Jia: Encyclopedia II - Guo Jia - Life

He Jin was born in a butcher's family in Nanyang, hometown of the dynastic founder Emperor Guangwu. During the reign of Emperor Ling his younger half-sister entered the palace and soon became one of the emperor's favourites. In 180, she was made the empress and He Jin henceforth began a speedy escalation up the bureaucratic ladder. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion erupted in 184, He Jin was made General-in-Chief (大將軍). He manned the imperial armory, secured strategic forts around the capital and moved quickly to crush the uprisi ...

See also:

He Jin, He Jin - Life, He Jin - Reference

Read more here: » He Jin: Encyclopedia II - He Jin - Life

Sun Jian - Early life and career. Born in the Fuchun Prefecture of the Wu Commandery (吳郡富春, present day Fuyang, Zhejiang), Sun Jian was said to be a descendant of the renowned military strategist Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War. He was a civil officer in his prefecture during his youth. When he was sixteen, Sun Jian travelled with his father to Qiantang (錢唐, present day Hanzhou, Zhejiang), where they came upon a band of pirates dividing up their spoils on land. Sun Jian jumped on shore with a ...

See also:

Sun Jian, Sun Jian - Life, Sun Jian - Early life and career, Sun Jian - Coalition against Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian - Late life, Sun Jian - Reference

Read more here: » Sun Jian: Encyclopedia II - Sun Jian - Life

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a 14th century historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, is a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms era. In this dramatized version of history Chen Gong was credited with much undue moral righteousness and craftiness, perhaps to accentuate the unscrupulousness of Cao Cao and incompetence of Lü Bu. Chen Gong - Meeting and parting with Cao Cao. The first incident that illustrates the righteousness of Chen Gong comes in Chapter 4, ...

See also:

Chen Gong, Chen Gong - Life, Chen Gong - Chen Gong in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chen Gong - Meeting and parting with Cao Cao, Chen Gong - Battle of Puyang, Chen Gong - Reference

Read more here: » Chen Gong: Encyclopedia II - Chen Gong - Chen Gong in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

A local of Jiwu (己吾, present day Sui, Henan), Dian Wei's birthyear is unknown. The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms describes Dian Wei as a stalwart man with superhuman strength. When he was young, Dian Wei once agreed to kill a rival of his fellow townsman. Disguised as a noble, Dian Wei travelled to his enemy's house in Suiyang (睢阳) and entered the gates without challenge. He then slayed his enemy's entire family. As the victim lived near the market, news of his death soon spread and hundreds of men went on pursuit of ...

See also:

Dian Wei, Dian Wei - Life, Dian Wei - Dian Wei in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Dian Wei - Reference

Read more here: » Dian Wei: Encyclopedia II - Dian Wei - Life

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms Period. Luo Guanzhong delineated an elaborate and cunning scheme for Wang Yun's plot to eliminate Dong Zhuo. It involved two strategems from the Thirty-Six Strategies: the Strategem of Beautiful Women (美人计) and the Strategem of Combining Tactics (连环计). In Chapter 8, Wang Yun was contemplating a plot to assassinate Dong Zhuo late one night when he heard ...

See also:

Wang Yun, Wang Yun - Life, Wang Yun - Wang Yun in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Yun - Reference

Read more here: » Wang Yun: Encyclopedia II - Wang Yun - Wang Yun in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Yuan Tan was born the eldest son of the northern warlord Yuan Shao. He accompanied his father to the famous Battle of Guandu against rival warlord Cao Cao in 200. However, Yuan Shao was utterly defeated in the conflict and fell sick shortly after returning to his base city of Ye. All along, Yuan Shao had intended to pass on his legacy to his youngest son Yuan Shang (袁尚), who was said to be extremely handsome, but the successorship had not been clearly established b ...

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Yuan Tan, Yuan Tan - Life, Yuan Tan - Yuan Tan in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yuan Tan - Reference

Read more here: » Yuan Tan: Encyclopedia II - Yuan Tan - Life