Cao Mao
Encyclopedia
Cao Mao formally known as the Duke of Gaogui, was the fourth emperor
of the state of Cao Wei
during the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. He was a grandson of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi
. Described as intelligent and studious, Cao Mao made repeated attempts to seize back state power from the regents Sima Shi
and Sima Zhao
, but failed. He was killed in an abortive coup d'etat
against Sima Zhao. He was received the posthumous title
of a duke instead of an emperor.
. In 244, at the age of three, in accordance with Cao Wei's regulations that the sons of princes (other than the first-born son of the prince's wife, customarily designated as the prince's heir) were to be instated as dukes, Cao Mao was granted the title of "Duke of Gaogui". Cao Mao's father died in 249 when he was eight. His older brother, Cao Qi (曹啟), succeeded their father as Prince of Donghai.
By 254, state power was in the control of the Sima clan, whose patriarch Sima Yi
had seized power from Cao Fang
's regent Cao Shuang
in 249. After Sima Yi's death in 251, the Sima clan was led by his son Sima Shi
. In 254, after falsely accusing the emperor's father-in-law Zhang Ji (張緝) and Zhang's associates Li Feng and Xiahou Xuan
of treason, Sima Shi had them and their clans executed, and when Cao Fang considered a coup against the Simas later that year, Sima Shi had him deposed.
It was at this time that Cao Fang's stepmother Empress Dowager Guo
made a last ditch attempt at preserving Cao Wei's imperial authority, by injecting herself into the process of selecting the next emperor. When Sima Shi notified her that he intended to make Cao Pi's brother Cao Ju (曹據), the Prince of Pengcheng, emperor, she managed to persuade him that such a succession would be improper, since Cao Ju was the uncle of her husband Cao Rui, such a succession would leave Cao Rui effectively without a heir. Sima Shi was forced to agree with her to let Cao Mao be the emperor. (Cao Mao, although young (at age 13) was known for his intelligence, and Empress Dowager Guo might have believed that he, alone of the princes and dukes, might have had a chance of counteracting the Simas.) When Sima Shi asked her for the imperial seal, she again reasoned with him and refused politely, under the reasoning that she had met Cao Mao before and wanted to personally hand him the seal. When Cao Mao was summoned to the capital, he acted in accordance with the ceremonies due a duke, rather than putting on imperial pretensions immediately, until he was enthroned. This earned him popular support and praise as a humble young emperor.
and Wen Qin
started a rebellion against the Sima clan in Shouchun, but were quickly crushed by Sima Shi's forces. Guanqiu was killed, and his clan was slaughtered. Wen and his sons, Wen Yang and Wen Hu
, fled to the rival state Eastern Wu
. Sima Shi died of illness shortly after the rebellion was suppressed. In the aftermath of Sima's death, the 14-year-old Cao Mao made another effort to seize back state power. He issued an imperial edict for Sima Shi's successor Sima Zhao
to remain at Xuchang
, using an excuse that the situation at Shouchun was still not completely peaceful. He also recalled Sima's assistant Fu Gu to return to the capital with the troops. However, on the advice of Fu and Zhong Hui
, Sima Zhao ignored the edict and returned to Luoyang, and continued to remain in control of the government.
Over the next few years, Cao Mao gradually established a circle of people around him, including Sima Zhao's cousin Sima Wang
, Wang Chen (王沈), Pei Xiu
, and Zhong Hui, all of whom were known for their literary talent. These people were unquestioned in their support for the Sima clan, but they might also have something to gain if they pledged allegiance to Cao Mao. In doing so, Cao was hoping that he could reduce Sima Zhao's suspicions against him while winning support from these people. He often held meetings with them to discuss literature. In addition, he gave Sima Wang a fast two-wheeled wagon and five imperial guardsmen as escorts because Sima lived further away from the palace than the others.
Around 257, Zhuge Dan
, who replaced Guanqiu Jian as military commander in Shouchun, started a rebellion against Sima Zhao, with support from the rival state of Eastern Wu
. Sima led an army to suppress the revolt and trapped the rebels in the city by early 258. Internal conflict broke out in Shouchun between Zhuge and Wen Qin (returned from Eastern Wu to support the revolt), which concluded with Wen's death at Zhuge's hands and the defection of Wen's sons to Sima Zhao. Shouchun eventually fell to Sima's forces and the rebellion was effectively crushed. In 259, Cao Mao received reports of sightings of yellow dragons (a sign of divine favour) in two wells. He commented that it was actually a sign of divine disfavour, and wrote a poem titled Ode to the Hidden Dragon (濳龍詩):
The poem greatly displeased Sima Zhao, who paid more attention to Cao Mao's activities afterwards. In 258, under pressure from Sima, Cao issued an edict granting Sima the nine bestowments
, but Sima declined.
, and told them that he was planning to take action against Sima, even if it would cost him his life, and even though chances of success were slim. He commented, "Even a pedestrian knows what's on Sima Zhao's mind" (司馬昭之心, 路人皆知). This quote was later used to describe a situation where a person's ambition is clearly apparent. Despite Wang Jing's urging for him to dismiss the idea, Cao went to meet Empress Dowager Guo and tell her about his intentions. Meanwhile, Wang Chen and Wang Ye secretly deserted Cao and informed Sima about the plot. Wang Jing was Cao's only supporter left.
Cao armed himself with a sword and led the imperial guards and his servants to Sima Zhao's residence. Sima Zhao's younger brother Sima Zhou
attempted to put up resistance, but his forces deserted when Cao's attendants scolded them for attempting to rebel against the emperor. Jia Chong arrived and intercepted Cao's forces, but his men did not dare to attack the emperor and deserted. Cheng Ji (成濟), a military officer under Sima Zhao, asked Jia what to do next. Jia told him to defend the Sima clan regardless of the consequences, so Cheng approached Cao and speared him to death.
After Cao Mao's death, the public called for Jia Chong's execution for committing regicide
. Sima Zhao forced Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously demote Cao Mao to the status of a commoner. Wang Jing and his clan were also executed on Sima's orders. The next day, after pleas from his uncle Sima Fu
, Sima Zhao asked Empress Dowager Guo to grant Cao Mao the posthumous title of a duke, and arrange a funeral for Cao, with the ceremonies befitting that of a prince. Cao Huang (later renamed to Cao Huan
), the Duke of Changdao, was chosen to be Cao Mao's successor and became emperor. 19 days later, Sima Zhao ordered Cheng Ji and his clan to be executed to appease the public, but Jia Chong was spared.
Emperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
of the state of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He was a grandson of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
. Described as intelligent and studious, Cao Mao made repeated attempts to seize back state power from the regents Sima Shi
Sima Shi
Sima Shi , style name Ziyuan , was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In 249, he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang's regent Cao Shuang, allowing the Sima family to become paramount authority in the state, and he...
and Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, but failed. He was killed in an abortive coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
against Sima Zhao. He was received the posthumous title
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
of a duke instead of an emperor.
Family background and ascension to the throne
Cao Mao was a son of Cao Lin (曹霖), the Prince of Donghai and son of Cao PiCao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
. In 244, at the age of three, in accordance with Cao Wei's regulations that the sons of princes (other than the first-born son of the prince's wife, customarily designated as the prince's heir) were to be instated as dukes, Cao Mao was granted the title of "Duke of Gaogui". Cao Mao's father died in 249 when he was eight. His older brother, Cao Qi (曹啟), succeeded their father as Prince of Donghai.
By 254, state power was in the control of the Sima clan, whose patriarch Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...
had seized power from Cao Fang
Cao Fang
Cao Fang , formally known as Duke Li of Shaoling, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He retained the title Prince of Qi after he was deposed by the regent Sima Shi...
's regent Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang , style name Zhaobo , was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Cao Zhen...
in 249. After Sima Yi's death in 251, the Sima clan was led by his son Sima Shi
Sima Shi
Sima Shi , style name Ziyuan , was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In 249, he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang's regent Cao Shuang, allowing the Sima family to become paramount authority in the state, and he...
. In 254, after falsely accusing the emperor's father-in-law Zhang Ji (張緝) and Zhang's associates Li Feng and Xiahou Xuan
Xiahou Xuan
Xiahou Xuan , style name Taichu , was a minister of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Xiahou Shang. Xiahou Xuan's mother was Cao Shuang's aunt , and thus he was close to Cao Shuang's faction. Despite this, he survived the overthrow and execution of Cao...
of treason, Sima Shi had them and their clans executed, and when Cao Fang considered a coup against the Simas later that year, Sima Shi had him deposed.
It was at this time that Cao Fang's stepmother Empress Dowager Guo
Empress Guo (Ming)
Empress Guo , personal name unknown, formally known as Empress Mingyuan , was an empress of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was married to Cao Rui , the second emperor of Cao Wei; she was his third wife and second empress...
made a last ditch attempt at preserving Cao Wei's imperial authority, by injecting herself into the process of selecting the next emperor. When Sima Shi notified her that he intended to make Cao Pi's brother Cao Ju (曹據), the Prince of Pengcheng, emperor, she managed to persuade him that such a succession would be improper, since Cao Ju was the uncle of her husband Cao Rui, such a succession would leave Cao Rui effectively without a heir. Sima Shi was forced to agree with her to let Cao Mao be the emperor. (Cao Mao, although young (at age 13) was known for his intelligence, and Empress Dowager Guo might have believed that he, alone of the princes and dukes, might have had a chance of counteracting the Simas.) When Sima Shi asked her for the imperial seal, she again reasoned with him and refused politely, under the reasoning that she had met Cao Mao before and wanted to personally hand him the seal. When Cao Mao was summoned to the capital, he acted in accordance with the ceremonies due a duke, rather than putting on imperial pretensions immediately, until he was enthroned. This earned him popular support and praise as a humble young emperor.
Reign
In 255, generals Guanqiu JianGuanqiu Jian
Guanqiu Jian , style name Zhonggong , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Biography:...
and Wen Qin
Wen Qin
Wen Qin , style name Zhongruo , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He served as the protector of Yang Province. Enraged at Sima Shi on the displacement of the emperor Cao Fang, then starting a rebellion with Guanqiu Jian. During the rebellion, Wen...
started a rebellion against the Sima clan in Shouchun, but were quickly crushed by Sima Shi's forces. Guanqiu was killed, and his clan was slaughtered. Wen and his sons, Wen Yang and Wen Hu
Wen Hu
Wen Hu was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Wen Hu was the son of Wen Qin. Wen Hu joined his father when he assisted Zhuge Dan in rebelling against the Cao Wei regent Sima Zhao...
, fled to the rival state Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
. Sima Shi died of illness shortly after the rebellion was suppressed. In the aftermath of Sima's death, the 14-year-old Cao Mao made another effort to seize back state power. He issued an imperial edict for Sima Shi's successor Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
to remain at Xuchang
Xuchang
Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
, using an excuse that the situation at Shouchun was still not completely peaceful. He also recalled Sima's assistant Fu Gu to return to the capital with the troops. However, on the advice of Fu and Zhong Hui
Zhong Hui
Zhong Hui was a military general of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the son of Zhong Yao, a calligrapher and politician of Wei....
, Sima Zhao ignored the edict and returned to Luoyang, and continued to remain in control of the government.
Over the next few years, Cao Mao gradually established a circle of people around him, including Sima Zhao's cousin Sima Wang
Sima Wang
Sima Wang was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He served the Jin Dynasty after the end of the Three Kingdoms period...
, Wang Chen (王沈), Pei Xiu
Pei Xiu
Pei Xiu , style name Jiyan , was a minister, geographer, and cartographer of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history, as well as the subsequent Jin Dynasty. Pei Xiu was very much trusted by Sima Zhao, and participated in the suppression of Zhuge Dan's coup...
, and Zhong Hui, all of whom were known for their literary talent. These people were unquestioned in their support for the Sima clan, but they might also have something to gain if they pledged allegiance to Cao Mao. In doing so, Cao was hoping that he could reduce Sima Zhao's suspicions against him while winning support from these people. He often held meetings with them to discuss literature. In addition, he gave Sima Wang a fast two-wheeled wagon and five imperial guardsmen as escorts because Sima lived further away from the palace than the others.
Around 257, Zhuge Dan
Zhuge Dan
Zhuge Dan , style named Gongxiu , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. When he held military positions during his middle to late career, he got involved in all Three Rebellions in Shouchun, which aimed to drive the de facto ruler of Cao Wei, Sima...
, who replaced Guanqiu Jian as military commander in Shouchun, started a rebellion against Sima Zhao, with support from the rival state of Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
. Sima led an army to suppress the revolt and trapped the rebels in the city by early 258. Internal conflict broke out in Shouchun between Zhuge and Wen Qin (returned from Eastern Wu to support the revolt), which concluded with Wen's death at Zhuge's hands and the defection of Wen's sons to Sima Zhao. Shouchun eventually fell to Sima's forces and the rebellion was effectively crushed. In 259, Cao Mao received reports of sightings of yellow dragons (a sign of divine favour) in two wells. He commented that it was actually a sign of divine disfavour, and wrote a poem titled Ode to the Hidden Dragon (濳龍詩):
- The poor dragon is trapped, alone and cold;
- He cannot leap out of the depths;
- He cannot rise to the heavens;
- He cannot even descend onto fields.
- The poor dragon fell into the deep well;
- Even catfish dance before him;
- He hides his teeth and claws and sighs;
- And I am this depressed as well?
The poem greatly displeased Sima Zhao, who paid more attention to Cao Mao's activities afterwards. In 258, under pressure from Sima, Cao issued an edict granting Sima the nine bestowments
Nine bestowments
The nine bestowments were awards given by Chinese emperors to extraordinary officials, ostensibly to reward them for their accomplishments. The nine bestowments were awards given by Chinese emperors to extraordinary officials, ostensibly to reward them for their accomplishments. The nine...
, but Sima declined.
Attempted coup against Sima Zhao and death
In 260, Cao was again forced to issue an edict granting Sima Zhao the nine bestowments, which Sima declined again. Cao gathered his associates Wang Chen, Wang Jing (王經), and Wang YeWang Ye
Wang Ye was a politician of Cao Wei during the late Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He served the Jin Dynasty after the end of the Three Kingdoms. Wang Ye, along with Wang Shen and Wang Jing were consulted by Cao Mao on the assassination of Sima Zhao...
, and told them that he was planning to take action against Sima, even if it would cost him his life, and even though chances of success were slim. He commented, "Even a pedestrian knows what's on Sima Zhao's mind" (司馬昭之心, 路人皆知). This quote was later used to describe a situation where a person's ambition is clearly apparent. Despite Wang Jing's urging for him to dismiss the idea, Cao went to meet Empress Dowager Guo and tell her about his intentions. Meanwhile, Wang Chen and Wang Ye secretly deserted Cao and informed Sima about the plot. Wang Jing was Cao's only supporter left.
Cao armed himself with a sword and led the imperial guards and his servants to Sima Zhao's residence. Sima Zhao's younger brother Sima Zhou
Sima Zhou
Sima Zhou was an official of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the sixth son of Sima Yi. Sima Zhou was known in Cao Wei as the "Fire General"...
attempted to put up resistance, but his forces deserted when Cao's attendants scolded them for attempting to rebel against the emperor. Jia Chong arrived and intercepted Cao's forces, but his men did not dare to attack the emperor and deserted. Cheng Ji (成濟), a military officer under Sima Zhao, asked Jia what to do next. Jia told him to defend the Sima clan regardless of the consequences, so Cheng approached Cao and speared him to death.
After Cao Mao's death, the public called for Jia Chong's execution for committing regicide
Regicide
The broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
. Sima Zhao forced Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously demote Cao Mao to the status of a commoner. Wang Jing and his clan were also executed on Sima's orders. The next day, after pleas from his uncle Sima Fu
Sima Fu
Sima Fu was a politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Biography:Sima Fu was a younger brother of Sima Yi, and for this reason he served the state of Cao Wei. It was said that although he did not have the extraordinary abilities of his older brother, he was well...
, Sima Zhao asked Empress Dowager Guo to grant Cao Mao the posthumous title of a duke, and arrange a funeral for Cao, with the ceremonies befitting that of a prince. Cao Huang (later renamed to Cao Huan
Cáo Huàn
Cao Huan , formally known as Emperor Yuan of Wei, was the fifth and last emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history....
), the Duke of Changdao, was chosen to be Cao Mao's successor and became emperor. 19 days later, Sima Zhao ordered Cheng Ji and his clan to be executed to appease the public, but Jia Chong was spared.
Family
- Father: Cao Lin (曹霖), Prince Ding of Donghai, son of Cao PiCao PiCao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
- Spouse: Empress BianEmpress Bian (Cao Mao)Empress Bian, personal name unknown, was an empress of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was married to Cao Mao, the fourth emperor of Cao Wei. Her father Bian Long was the grandson of Bian Bing , a brother-in-law of Cao Mao's great-grandfather, Cao Cao and a brother...
, daughter of Bian Long (卞隆), instated in 255