CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Cao Xiu曹休
A member of Cao Cao's clan, won a robe in an archery contest at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 14
- RELATION RECORDS
- 17
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Cao Xiu, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
1 figure · 2 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Cao Cao—Cao Xiuclan nephew
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
5 figures · 5 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Cao Rui→Cao Xiuappoint
Cao Xiu→Cao Piassist governance
Read the original source
召中军大将军曹真、镇军大将军陈群、征东大将军曹休、抚军大将军司马宣王，并受遗诏辅嗣主
Zang Ba—Cao Xiucolleague
Sun Li→Cao Xiuadmonish
Cao Xiu→Zhao Yanappoint strategist
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
7 figures · 9 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Lu Xun→Cao Xiuintercept
Lü Fan→Cao Xiudefeat
Sun Quan→Cao Xiugreat defeat
Cao Xiu→Ling Tongambush
Xu Sheng→Cao Xiudefend
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Wang Ling→Cao Xiurescue
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
A member of the Cao Wei imperial clan, appointed as a regent by the late emperor's edict.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
A member of Cao Cao's clan, won a robe in an archery contest at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace; a Wei general, secretly shot an arrow at Ling Tong's horse; a Wei general, commanded the Imperial Guard and participated in suppressing rebellions.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend10 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
4 relations6 verified quotations- Cao Rui→ appoint →Cao Xiu
- Cao Xiu→ defeated →Lu Xun
- Lü Fan→ defeat →Cao Xiu
- Cao Xiu→ ambush →Ling Tong
Verified original text · 6
命曹休总督雍、凉军马
appoint · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 91
曹休为大司马
appoint · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 91
4 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history22 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
16 relations17 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ clan nephew →Cao Xiu
- Cao Xiu→ clan nephew →Cao Cao
- Sun Quan→ great defeat →Cao Xiu
- Cao Xiu→ assist governance →Cao Pi
Verified original text · 17
征东大将军曹休
clan nephew · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·文帝纪
曹休字文烈，太祖族子也。
clan nephew · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·诸夏侯曹传
15 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
A famed general in official history, hailed as the Cao family's 'thousand-li colt' and rising to Grand Marshal.
According to Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Cao Xiu, Cao Cao praised him as 'my family's thousand-li colt.' In the Battle of Xiabian, Cao Xiu saw through the enemy's intentions and defeated Zhang Fei and Wu Lan.
The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Cao Xiu records that Cao Xiu advanced rashly into Zhou Fang's scheme of cutting off his hair and feigning surrender, and at Shiting was ambushed by Lu Xun and suffered a great defeat. Returning to Luoyang, he died of a carbuncle on his back. The original text: 「太和二年，帝为二道征吴，遣司马宣王从汉水下，〔休督〕诸军向寻阳。贼将伪降，休深入，战不利，退还宿石亭。军夜惊，士卒乱，弃甲兵辎重甚多。休上书谢罪，帝遣屯骑校尉杨暨慰谕，礼赐益隆。休因此痈发背薨，谥曰壮侯。」(Source: Book of Wei, Biographies of the Various Xiahou and Cao Families.txt)
Relationship network
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
曹休字文烈，太祖族子也。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
召中军大将军曹真、镇军大将军陈群、征东大将军曹休、抚军大将军司马宣王，并受遗诏辅嗣主
- appoint← Cao Rui → Cao Xiuhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·明帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 91Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 97
Original text (4)
命曹休总督雍、凉军马
曹休为大司马
魏主曹叡敕令厚葬
Original relation: 敕令厚葬 · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 97
征东大将军曹休
Original relation: ruler-subject · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·明帝纪
- defeatedCao Xiu → Lu Xunhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·明帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 97
Original text (2)
魏都督曹休被东吴陆逊大破于石亭
与吴将陆议战于石亭，败绩
Original relation: defeat · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·明帝纪
- intercept← Lu Xun → Cao XiuhistRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·贺全吕周钟离传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·陆逊传
Original text (2)
鲂亦合众，随陆逊横截休
休既觉知，耻见欺诱，自恃兵马精多，遂交战。
Original relation: defeat · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·陆逊传
- defeat← Lü Fan → Cao Xiuhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·朱吕范传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 85
Original text (2)
曹休亦被吕范杀败
以舟师拒休等于洞口
Original relation: battle · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·朱吕范传
Original text (1)
盛与吕范、全琮渡江拒守
Original text (1)
曹休便闪往张辽背后，开弓一箭，正中凌统坐下马。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
征东大将军曹休统五州军御之，征俨为军师
Original text (1)
休将步骑十万至皖城以迎鲂