Cao Wei family trees

This article contains the family trees of members of the Cao clan, who ruled the state of Cao Wei (220–265) in the Three Kingdoms period (220–280) in China. Only Cao Cao's lineage is shown in this article. The lineages of his relatives, such as Cao Ren, Cao Zhen and others, are not included here.

Cao Song

Cao Meng1
曹萌
Yuanwei
元偉
Cao Teng2
曹騰
Jixing
季興
Cao Song
曹嵩
Jugao
巨高
Xiahou Yuan
夏侯淵
Miaocai
妙才
Marquis Ai of Haiyang
海陽哀侯
(name unknown)
Cao Bin
曹彬
Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Cao De3
曹德
Cao Yu6
曹玉
Son
(name unknown)
Son4
(name unknown)
Sun Jian
孫堅
Wentai
文台
Xiahou Heng
夏侯衡
Boshu
伯叔
Daughter
(name unknown)
Cao Jun5
曹均
Cao Hui7
曹徽
Cao Anmin6
曹安民
Daughter
(name unknown)
Sun Kuang
孫匡
Jizuo
季佐

Cao Song was a foster son of the eunuch Cao Teng and he had at least four sons: Cao Cao, Cao Bin, Cao De, and a fourth one whose personal name was not recorded and was only known by his posthumous title "Marquis Ai of Haiyang". The marquis's daughter married Xiahou Yuan's eldest son Xiahou Heng.

  • 1 The name of Cao Teng's father was given as either "Cao Meng" (曹萌) or "Cao Jie" (曹節) in various commentated versions of the Houhanshu. Since Cao Jie is also the name of Cao Cao's daughter, Rafe de Crespigny considers the name Cao Jie unlikely to be that of Cao Teng's father due to the naming taboo against using an ancestor's name.
  • 2 Cao Teng was a eunuch. He adopted Cao Song as his foster son. See Cao Song#Family background for information on Cao Song's heritage.
  • 3 Cao De's name was recorded as "Cao Ji" (曹疾) in the Houhanshu.
  • 4 The Sanguozhi mentioned that Sun Kuang married the daughter of Cao Cao's younger brother, whose name was not recorded. It might be possible that this younger brother of Cao Cao was the same person as either of Cao Cao's three other younger brothers.
  • 5 Cao Jun was actually Cao Cao's son. He was adopted by his uncle Cao Bin because the latter had no heir.
  • 6 Cao Cao had a nephew, Cao Anmin, who was killed at the Battle of Wancheng in 197. Cao Anmin was stated to be a son of Cao Cao's younger brother, whose name was not recorded. It might be possible that this younger brother of Cao Cao was the same person as either of Cao Cao's three other younger brothers.
  • 7 Cao Yu (曹玉), also known by his posthumous title "Marquis Ai of Langling" (朗陵哀侯), was mentioned in the Sanguozhi as a granduncle of Cao Cao's son Cao Hui, whom he adopted as his heir. However, this is likely to be an error since there is no record of Cao Song having any brothers; therefore, Cao Yu was most probably an uncle of Cao Hui.
  • 8 Cao Hui was actually Cao Cao's son. He was adopted by his (grand)uncle Cao Yu because the latter had no heir.

Cao Cao, his wives, and his children

Lady Bian

Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Lady Bian
卞氏
Cao Pi
曹丕
Zihuan
子桓
Cao Zhang
曹彰
Ziwen
子文
Cao Zhi
曹植
Zijian
子建
Cao Xiong
曹熊
Cao Bing
曹炳

Cao Cao and Lady Bian had four sons: Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi and Cao Xiong.

Cao Xiong was succeeded by his son Cao Bing. Cao Bing had no heir.

Cao Zhang

Sun Ben
孫賁
Boyang
伯陽
Cao Zhang
曹彰
Ziwen
子文
Lady Sun
孫氏
Cao Kai
曹楷
Daughter
(name unknown)
Wang Chang
王昌
Gongbo
公伯

Cao Zhang married Sun Ben's daughter (personal name unknown). Cao Zhang's son was Cao Kai. Cao Zhang also had a daughter (personal name unknown) who married Wang Chang. It is not known whether Cao Zhang's two children were born to Lady Sun (Sun Ben's daughter) or not.

* Note that Cao Zhang's name was erroneously recorded as 曹章 in Sun Ce's biography in the Sanguozhi.

Cao Zhi

Cui Yan
崔琰
Jigui
季珪
Cui Yan's brother
Cao Zhi
曹植
Zijian
子建
Lady Cui
崔氏
Cao Miao
曹苗
Cao Zhi
曹志
Yungong
允恭
Cao Jinhu
曹金瓠
Cao Xingnü
曹行女

Cao Zhi married the daughter of Cui Yan's elder brother. He had two sons — Cao Miao and Cao Zhi (courtesy name "Yungong"). He also had two daughters — Cao Jinhu and Cao Xingnü. It is not known whether Cao Zhi's four children were born to Lady Cui or not.

Lady Liu

Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Lady Liu
劉氏
Xiahou Dun
夏侯惇
Yuanrang
元讓
Cao Ang
曹昂
Zixiu
子脩
Cao Shuo
曹鑠
Princess Qinghe
清河公主
(name unknown)
Xiahou Mao
夏侯楙
Zilin
子林
Cao Wan1
曹琬
Cao Song2
曹竦
Cao Lian
曹廉

Cao Cao and Lady Liu had two sons and a daughter: Cao Ang, Cao Shuo and Princess Qinghe (personal name unknown). Princess Qinghe married Xiahou Dun's son Xiahou Mao.

Cao Ang's successor was Cao Wan, a son of his half-brother Cao Jun (曹均). Cao Wan's son was Cao Lian. Cao Shuo's successor was Cao Song, a son of his half-brother Cao Mao (曹茂).

  • 1 Cao Wan was actually a son of Cao Ang's half-brother Cao Jun. Cao Ang died without an heir so Cao Wan was chosen to be his successor.
  • 2 Cao Song was actually a son of Cao Shuo's half-brother Cao Mao. Cao Shuo died without an heir so Cao Song was chosen to be his successor.

Lady Huan

Lady Huan
環氏
Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Lady Bian
卞氏
Bian Bing
卞秉
Cao Chong
曹沖
Cangshu
倉舒
Cao Ju
曹據
Cao Yu
曹宇
Pengzu
彭祖
Bian Lin
卞琳
Cao Cong1
曹琮
Cao Huan
曹奐
Jingming
景明
Empress Bian
卞皇后

Cao Cao and Lady Huan had three sons: Cao Chong, Cao Ju and Cao Yu.

Cao Chong's successor was Cao Cong, a son of his brother Cao Ju. Cao Yu's son was Cao Huan. Cao Huan married Bian Lin's daughter Empress Bian. Bian Lin was a son of Bian Bing, a younger brother of Lady Bian (another of Cao Cao's wives).

  • 1 Cao Cong was actually a son of Cao Chong's brother Cao Ju. Cao Chong died without an heir so Cao Cong was chosen to be his successor.

Lady Du

Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Lady Du
杜氏
Qin Yilu
秦宜祿
Cao Gun
曹袞
Cao Lin
曹林
Qin Lang
秦朗
Yuanming
元明
Cao Fu
曹孚
Cao Wei
曹緯
Daughter
(name unknown)
Ji Kang
嵇康
Shuye
叔夜

Cao Cao and Lady Du had two sons: Cao Lin and Cao Gun. Lady Du and her ex-husband Qin Yilu had a son, Qin Lang, who was adopted by Cao Cao after his mother's remarriage.

Cao Gun's son was Cao Fu. Cao Lin had a son (Cao Wei) and a daughter (personal name unknown). The daughter married Ji Kang.

Lady Qin

Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Lady Qin
秦氏
Cao Jun
曹峻
Zi'an
子安
Cao Xuan
曹玹
Cao Ao
曹澳
Cao Zan1
曹贊
Cao Yi2
曹壹
Cao Heng
曹恒

Cao Cao and Lady Qin had two sons: Cao Xuan and Cao Jun.

Cao Xuan's successor was Cao Zan, a son of his half-brother Cao Lin. Cao Zan's successor was his younger brother Cao Yi. Cao Yi's son was Cao Heng.

Cao Jun's son was Cao Ao.

  • 1 Cao Zan was actually a son of Cao Xuan's half-brother Cao Lin. Cao Xuan died without an heir so Cao Zan was chosen to be his successor.
  • 2 Cao Zan also died without an heir so his younger brother Cao Yi was chosen to be his successor. Cao Yi was hence the successor to Cao Xuan's line.

Lady Yin

He Jin
何進
Suigao
遂高
Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Lady Yin
尹氏
He Xian
何咸
Cao Ju
曹矩
Cao Min1
曹敏
Cao Kun
曹焜
Princess Jinxiang2
金鄉公主
(name unknown)
He Yan
何晏
Pingshu
平叔

Cao Cao and Lady Yin had a son: Cao Ju. Lady Yin and her ex-husband He Xian, a son of He Jin, had a son, He Yan, who was adopted by Cao Cao after his mother's remarriage. He Yan married Cao Cao's daughter Princess Jinxiang (personal name unknown).

Cao Ju's successor was Cao Min, a son of his half-brother Cao Jun (曹均). Cao Min's son was Cao Kun.

  • 1 Cao Min was actually a son of Cao Ju's half-brother Cao Jun. Cao Ju died without an heir so Cao Min was chosen to be his successor.
  • 2 The identity of Princess Jinxiang's mother is not confirmed. The Wei Mo Zhuan (魏末傳) claimed that Princess Jinxiang was He Yan's half-sister and that she was born to the same mother as the Prince of Pei (Cao Lin). Pei Songzhi pointed out that the Sanguozhi stated that Cao Lin's mother was Lady Du. He Yan's mother was Lady Yin. Therefore, if Princess Jinxiang shared the same mother as Cao Lin, she could not have been He Yan's half-sister.

Consort Sun

Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Consort Sun
孫姬
Cao Biao
曹彪
Zhuhu
朱虎
Cao Zishang
曹子上
Cao Ziqin
曹子勤
Cao Jia
曹嘉

Cao Cao and Consort Sun had three sons: Cao Zishang, Cao Ziqin and Cao Biao.

Both Cao Zishang and Cao Ziqin died without heirs. Cao Biao was succeeded by his son Cao Jia.

Consort Li

Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Consort Li
李姬
Cao Zizheng
曹子整
Cao Zicheng
曹子乘
Cao Zijing
曹子京
Cao Fan1
曹範
Cao Chan2
曹闡

Cao Cao and Consort Li had three sons: Cao Zicheng, Cao Zizheng and Cao Zijing.

Both Cao Zicheng and Cao Zijing died without heirs. Cao Zizheng's successor was Cao Fan, a son of his half-brother Cao Ju (曹據). Cao Fan was succeeded by his younger brother Cao Chan.

  • 1 Cao Fan was actually a son of Cao Zizheng's half-brother Cao Ju. Cao Zizheng died without an heir so Cao Fan was chosen to be his successor.
  • 2 Cao Fan also died without an heir so his younger brother Cao Chan was chosen to be his successor. Cao Chan was hence the successor to Cao Zizheng's line.

Cao Cao's other wives and children

Lady Wang
王昭儀
Lady Ding
丁氏
Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Xun Yu
荀彧
Wenruo
文若
Consort Zhou
周姬
Consort Song
宋姬
Consort Liu
劉姬
Consort Zhao
趙姬
Lady Chen
陳妾
Princess Anyang
安陽公主
(name unknown)
Xun Yun
荀惲
Cao Jun
曹均
Cao Hui
曹徽
Cao Ziji
曹子棘
Cao Mao
曹茂
Cao Gan
曹幹
Cao Kang
曹抗
Cao Xi
曹翕
Cao Chen
曹諶
Cao Kun
曹琨
Liu Xie
劉協
Bohe
伯和
Cao Xian
曹憲
Cao Jie
曹節
Cao Hua
曹華

Cao Cao had five other sons who were born to five different mothers: Consort Zhou bore Cao Jun; Consort Liu bore Cao Ziji; Consort Song bore Cao Hui; Consort Zhao bore Cao Mao; Lady Chen bore Cao Gan. Cao Cao also had two other wives: Lady Wang, who raised Cao Gan after Lady Chen's death; Lady Ding, who raised Cao Ang after the death of Lady Liu (Cao Ang's biological mother). Cao Cao also had four daughters whose mothers were not known: Cao Xian, Cao Jie, Cao Hua and Princess Anyang (personal name unknown). Cao Xian, Cao Jie and Cao Hua married Liu Xie (Emperor Xian of Han) while Princess Anyang married Xun Yu's son Xun Yun.

Cao Ziji died without an heir. Cao Jun was succeeded by his son Cao Kang, who in turn was succeeded by his son Cao Chen. Cao Hui was succeeded by his son Cao Xi. Cao Xi's son was Cao Kun.

Cao Pi, his wives, and his children

Lady Zhen

Cao Pi
曹丕
Zihuan
子桓
Lady Zhen
甄氏
Cao Rui
曹叡
Yuanzhong
元仲
Princess Dongxiang
東鄉公主
(name unknown)

Cao Pi and Lady Zhen had a son and a daughter: Cao Rui and Princess Dongxiang (personal name unknown).

Consort Xu

Cao Pi
曹丕
Zihuan
子桓
Consort Xu
徐姬
Cao Li
曹禮
Cao Ti1
曹悌

Cao Pi and Consort Xu had a son: Cao Li. Cao Li's successor was Cao Ti, a son of his cousin Cao Kai (Cao Zhang's son).

  • 1 Cao Ti was actually a son of Cao Li's cousin Cao Kai (Cao Zhang's son). Cao Li died without an heir so Cao Ti was chosen to be his successor.

Ladies Pan, Zhu, and Qiu

Cao Cao
曹操
Mengde
孟德
Lady Bian
卞氏
Bian Bing
卞秉
Cao Pi
曹丕
Zihuan
子桓
Bian Lan
卞蘭
Lady Pan
潘淑媛
Lady Zhu
朱淑媛
Lady Qiu
仇昭儀
Bian Long
卞隆
Cao Rui
曹蕤
Cao Jian
曹鑒
Cao Lin
曹霖
Cao Zan1
曹贊
Cao Qi
曹啟
Cao Mao
曹髦
Yanshi
彥士
Empress Bian
卞皇后

Three of Cao Pi's wives: Lady Pan, Lady Zhu and Lady Qiu - bore him children as such: Lady Pan bore Cao Rui; Lady Zhu bore Cao Jian; Lady Qiu bore Cao Lin.

Cao Rui's successor was Cao Zan, a son of Cao Min, Cao Ju's heir and Prince of Langya. Cao Jian had no heir. Cao Lin had two sons: Cao Qi and Cao Mao. Cao Mao married Empress Bian, Bian Long's daughter. Bian Long was Bian Lan's son, Bian Lan was Bian Bing's son. Bian Bing was a younger brother of Cao Pi's mother Lady Bian.

  • 1 Cao Zan was actually a son of Cao Min. Cao Rui died without an heir so Cao Zan was chosen to be his successor.

Consorts Li, Su, Zhang, and Song

Cao Pi
曹丕
Zihuan
子桓
Consort Li
李貴人
Consort Su
蘇姬
Consort Zhang
張姬
Consort Song
宋姬
Cao Xie
曹協
Cao Yong
曹邕
Cao Gong
曹貢
Cao Yan
曹儼
Cao Xun
曹尋
Cao Wen1
曹溫

Four of Cao Pi's wives – Consorts Li, Su, Zhang and Song – bore him children as such: Consort Li bore Cao Xie; Consort Su bore Cao Yong; Consort Zhang bore Cao Gong; Consort Song bore Cao Yan.

Cao Xie's son was Cao Xun. Cao Yong's successor was Cao Wen, a son of his cousin Cao Kai (Cao Zhang's son). Both Cao Gong and Cao Yan died without heirs.

  • 1 Cao Wen was actually a son of Cao Kai (Cao Zhang's son). Cao Yong died without an heir so Cao Wen was chosen to succeed him.

Cao Pi's other wives and children

Liu Xie
劉協
Bohe
伯和
Lady Liu
劉氏
Lady Liu
劉氏
Guo Yong
郭永
Lady Dong
董氏
Consort Yin
陰貴人
Consort Chai
柴貴人
Cao Pi
曹丕
Zihuan
子桓
Guo Nüwang
郭女王
Lady Ren
任氏
Lady Li
李氏
Cao Jie
曹喈
Zhongyong
仲雍

Cao Pi had seven other wives: the two Ladies Liu, Consort Yin, Consort Chai, Lady Ren, Lady Li and Guo Nüwang. The two Ladies Liu were the daughters of Liu Xie (Emperor Xian of Han). Guo Nüwang was the daughter of Guo Yong and Lady Dong.

Cao Pi had a son, Cao Jie. The identity of Cao Jie's mother is not known.

Cao Rui

Mao Jia
毛嘉
Guo Man
郭滿
Lady Du
杜氏
Mao Zeng
毛曾
Empress Mao
毛皇后
Empress Guo
郭皇后
Lady Zhang
張才人
Lady He
何才人
Cao Rui
曹叡
Yuanzhong
元仲
Lady Yu
虞妃
Cao Jiong
曹冏
Cao Mu
曹穆
Cao Yin
曹殷
Cao Fang1
曹芳
Lanqing
蘭卿
Cao Xun2
曹詢
Ren Kai3
任愷
Yuanbao
元褒
First Princess of Qi
齊長公主
(name unknown)
Cao Shu
曹淑

Cao Rui had five wives: Empress Mao, Empress Guo, Lady Zhang, Lady He and Lady Yu. Empress Mao was Mao Jia's daughter and she had a younger brother, Mao Zeng. Empress Guo was the daughter of Guo Man and Lady Du.

Cao Rui had three sons (Cao Jiong, Cao Mu and Cao Yin) and two daughters (Cao Shu and the First Princess of Qi). The First Princess of Qi (personal name unknown) married Li Feng's son Li Tao (李韜) initially, but was later remarried to Ren Kai.

Cao Rui also had two adoptive sons: Cao Fang and Cao Xun, who were allegedly the sons of Cao Zhang's son, Cao Kai (曹楷).

  • 1 Cao Fang was Cao Rui's adoptive son. His biological father was alleged to be Cao Zhang's son Cao Kai.
  • 2 Cao Xun was Cao Rui's adoptive son.
  • 3 The First Princess of Qi married Li Tao initially, but she was later remarried to Ren Kai.

Cao Fang

Zhen Yan
甄儼
Zhang Ji
張既
Derong
德容
Empress Zhen's father
(name unknown)
Zhang Ji
張緝
Jingzhong
敬仲
Wang Kui
王夔
Empress Zhen
甄皇后
Empress Zhang
張皇后
Empress Wang
王皇后
Lady Zhang
張美人
Cao Fang
曹芳
Lanqing
蘭卿
Li Hua
李華
Liu Xun
劉勳
Yuwan
禺婉
Lady Xing
邢氏

Cao Fang had eight wives: Empress Zhen, a granddaughter of Zhen Yan (Lady Zhen's elder brother); Empress Zhang, a daughter of Zhang Ji (Jingzhong); Empress Wang, Wang Kui's daughter; Lady Zhang; Lady Xing, who later remarried Sun Huan's son Sun Yi (孫壹); Li Hua, Liu Xun; Yuwan.

See also