CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Cao Zhi曹植
Youngest son of Cao Cao, proposed building the Three Terraces, intelligent and skilled in writing.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 13
- RELATION RECORDS
- 17
- SOURCE WORKS
- 5
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Cao Zhi, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Yang Xiu→Cao Zhiassist
Source record
02KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
8 figures · 8 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Cao CaoisCao Zhi’s father
Cao Pi—Cao Zhibrothers
Cao Rui—Cao Zhiuncle-nephew
Cao Zhi—Cao Zhangbrothers
03ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
2 figures · 3 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Cao Pi→Cao Zhienfeoff king
Liu Zhen→Cao Zhiadmonish
04CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Pi→Cao Zhipunish
Yang Xiu→Cao Zhially
Ding Yi→Cao Zhially
05THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Su Ze→Cao Zhishared grief
Wu Zhi→Cao Zhiassociate
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · History of Song
Younger brother of Cao Pi, enfeoffed as Prince of Juancheng. Younger brother of Cao Pi, composed a eulogy.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms · Records of Myriad Things · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
Youngest son of Cao Cao, proposed building the Three Terraces, intelligent and skilled in writing. Son of Cao Cao, composed the 'Rhapsody on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace'. Third son of Cao Cao, talented but fell out of favor.
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 / legend1 profile notes
Records of Myriad Things
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend6 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
3 relations5 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ father-son →Cao Zhi
- Cao Pi→ brothers →Cao Zhi
- Yang Xiu→ assist →Cao Zhi
Verified original text · 5
原来曹操有五子，惟植性敏慧
father-son · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 34
曹操幼子曹植
father-son · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 44
3 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history19 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
16 relations20 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ father-son →Cao Zhi
- Cao Pi→ brothers →Cao Zhi
- Cao Pi→ enfeoff king →Cao Zhi
- Cao Zhi→ memorialize →Cao Pi
Verified original text · 20
太祖尝视其文，谓植曰
father-son · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·任城陈萧王传
植，吾爱之，安能若卿言！吾欲立之为嗣，何如？
father-son · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·任城陈萧王传
18 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
History of Song
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend3 profile notes
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
2 relations2 verified quotations- Cao Pi→ brothers →Cao Zhi
- Cao Pi→ enfeoff king →Cao Zhi
Verified original text · 2
魏文帝尝与陈思王植同辇出游
brothers · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 俊辩一
诏令赋死牛诗
命令赋诗 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 俊辩一
History vs. fiction
In official history, he was a literary giant of the Wei state, highly talented but politically frustrated.
The "Shishuo Xinyu·Literature" records that he composed a poem in seven steps; however, the official history "Records of the Three Kingdoms·Book of Wei·Biography of Prince Chen Si" does not contain this poem, which is a product of romanticized storytelling. (Original text: 「煮豆燃豆萁，豆在釜中泣。」——Source: data/raw/sanguo-yanyi/第079回.txt)
世说新语 praises his literary talent as being eight dou high; 洛神赋 (originally titled 感甄赋) has been passed down through the ages, and official history confirms his supreme literary talent. For instance, Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Rencheng, Chen, and Xiao Princes records: 「年十岁馀，诵读《诗》《论》及辞赋数十万言，善属文。」
Relationship network
- father-son← Cao Cao → Cao Zhihist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·任城陈萧王传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·文帝纪Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武文世王公传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 34Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 44Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 68Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 78Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 79
Original text (8)
原来曹操有五子，惟植性敏慧
曹操幼子曹植
第三子曹植
孤平生所爱第三子植
太祖尝视其文，谓植曰
植，吾爱之，安能若卿言！吾欲立之为嗣，何如？
鄄城侯植
封三子，植为平原侯
- brothers← Cao Pi → Cao Zhihist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·任城陈萧王传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·文帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 79Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 俊辩一
Original text (5)
- enfeoff king← Cao Pi → Cao Zhihist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·任城陈萧王传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·文帝纪Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 俊辩一
Original text (3)
三年，立为鄄城王，邑二千五百户。
立鄄城侯植为鄄城王
Original relation: confer title · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·文帝纪
诏令赋死牛诗
Original relation: 命令赋诗 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 俊辩一
Original text (1)
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任城王暴薨。诸王既怀友于之痛。
Original text (1)
则及临菑侯植闻魏氏代汉，皆发服悲哭
Original text (1)
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世子及临菑侯植并送路侧
Original text (1)
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东阿王植，太后少子，最爱之。
Original text (1)
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Original text (1)
帝以太后故，贬爵安乡侯。