Cai Wenji
Encyclopedia
Cai Wenji also known as Cai Yan, was a Han Dynasty
poet and composer. She was the daughter of Cai Yong
, also a musician. Her style name
was originally Zhaoji, but it was changed to Wenji during the Jin Dynasty
to avoid a naming conflict
with Sima Zhao
.
She spent part of her life as a prisoner of the Xiongnu
people, until Cao Cao
paid a heavy sum to redeem her in 207.
, Henan
. Cai Wenji was married at the age of fifteen to a Wei Zhongdao (衛仲道) in 192, who died shortly after without any offspring. In 195, the chaos after Chancellor
Dong Zhuo
's death brought Xiongnu
nomads into the Chinese capital and Cai Wenji was taken as prisoner to the northerlands. During her captivity, she became the wife of the Xiongnu chieftain Liu Bao
(the "Wise King of the Left
"), and bore him two sons. It was not until twelve years later that Cao Cao
, the new Chancellor of Han
, ransomed her in the name of her father. When Cai Wenji returned to her homeland, she left her children behind at the frontier. The reason Cao Cao needed her back, was that she was the only one remaining of her clan and he needed her to placate the spirits of her ancestors.
She married again, this time to a government official named Dong Si (董祀). However, Dong Si committed a crime sentencable to death, and Cai Wenji went to Cao Cao to plea for her husband's acquittal. At the time, Cao Cao was having a banquet to entertain guests, who were stirred by Cai Wenji's distressed appearance and behaviour. She asked him if he could provide her with yet another husband and Cao Cao pardoned Dong Si.
Cai Wenji's father Cai Yong was an established writer, but his works were lost in the ravages of war. At Cao Cao's request, Cai Wenji was able to recite from memory up to four hundred out of four thousand of her father's lost works.
Later in her life, she wrote two poems describing her turbulent years. Her year of death is unknown.
piece Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute
is traditionally attributed to her, although the authorship is a perennial issue for scholarly debate. The other two poems, both named "Poem of Sorrow and Anger" (悲憤詩), were known to be by her own hand.
Below is an excerpt of the "Poem of Sorrow and Anger" in five-character form (五言):
, which is now stored in the Long Corridor
in the Summer Palace
. Modern Chinese writer Guo Moruo
wrote a play on her life, and there also exists a Beijing opera
rendition. Also, a crater on Venus
was named Cai Wenji, after her name.
(her debut as a playable character in North American and European ports). She also appears in Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms
video game series and in Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires as a NPC.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
poet and composer. She was the daughter of Cai Yong
Cai Yong
Cai Yong was a Chinese scholar of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was well-versed in calligraphy, music, mathematics and astronomy. One of his daughters is the famous Cai Wenji.-Early life:...
, also a musician. Her style name
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
was originally Zhaoji, but it was changed to Wenji during the Jin Dynasty
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
to avoid a naming conflict
Naming taboo
Naming taboo is a cultural taboo against speaking or writing the given names of exalted persons in China and neighboring nations in the ancient Chinese cultural sphere.-Kinds of naming taboo:...
with 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...
.
She spent part of her life as a prisoner of the Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
people, until Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
paid a heavy sum to redeem her in 207.
Biography
Cai Wenji was born shortly before 178 in Yu Prefecture (圉縣), Chenliu Commandery (陳留), in what is now Qi County, KaifengQi County, Kaifeng
Qi County is a county of Kaifeng, Henan, People's Republic of China, with an area of 1243 square km and a population of 1.05 million.-History:...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
. Cai Wenji was married at the age of fifteen to a Wei Zhongdao (衛仲道) in 192, who died shortly after without any offspring. In 195, the chaos after Chancellor
Chancellor of China
The Chancellor , variously translated as Prime Minister, Chancellor of State, Premier or Chief Councillor, was a generic name given to the highest-ranking official in the imperial government in ancient China...
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...
's death brought Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
nomads into the Chinese capital and Cai Wenji was taken as prisoner to the northerlands. During her captivity, she became the wife of the Xiongnu chieftain Liu Bao
Liu Bao
Liu Bao was the son of the Xiongnu Shanyu Yufuluo during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Liu Bao was the father of Liu Yuan, founder of the Han Zhao state during the Sixteen Kingdoms period....
(the "Wise King of the Left
Worthy Prince
Tuqi was a high office in the Xiongnu confederation, a title also known to the Chinese as "worthy/wise prince/king". In the 6-8th centuries AD the Chinese annalists used the expression 贤王 Xian wang only in references to the Eastern Türks ....
"), and bore him two sons. It was not until twelve years later that Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
, the new Chancellor of Han
Chancellor of China
The Chancellor , variously translated as Prime Minister, Chancellor of State, Premier or Chief Councillor, was a generic name given to the highest-ranking official in the imperial government in ancient China...
, ransomed her in the name of her father. When Cai Wenji returned to her homeland, she left her children behind at the frontier. The reason Cao Cao needed her back, was that she was the only one remaining of her clan and he needed her to placate the spirits of her ancestors.
She married again, this time to a government official named Dong Si (董祀). However, Dong Si committed a crime sentencable to death, and Cai Wenji went to Cao Cao to plea for her husband's acquittal. At the time, Cao Cao was having a banquet to entertain guests, who were stirred by Cai Wenji's distressed appearance and behaviour. She asked him if he could provide her with yet another husband and Cao Cao pardoned Dong Si.
Cai Wenji's father Cai Yong was an established writer, but his works were lost in the ravages of war. At Cao Cao's request, Cai Wenji was able to recite from memory up to four hundred out of four thousand of her father's lost works.
Later in her life, she wrote two poems describing her turbulent years. Her year of death is unknown.
Poetry
Cai Wenji, like her father, was an established calligrapher of her time, and her works were often praised along with her father's. Her poems were noted for their sorrowful tone, parallel to her hard life. The famous guqinGuqin
The guqin is the modern name for a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family...
piece Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute
Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute
Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute are a series of Chinese songs and poems about the life of Han Dynasty poet Cai Wenji, the songs were composed by Liu Shang, a poet of the middle Tang Dynasty...
is traditionally attributed to her, although the authorship is a perennial issue for scholarly debate. The other two poems, both named "Poem of Sorrow and Anger" (悲憤詩), were known to be by her own hand.
Below is an excerpt of the "Poem of Sorrow and Anger" in five-character form (五言):
Legacy
The stories of Cai Wenji reverberates primarily with the feeling of sorrow, and inspires later artists to keep portraying her past. Her return was the subject of the painting Cai Wenji Returns to Her Homeland (文姬歸漢圖) by Zhang YuZhang Yu
Zhang Yu may refer to:*Zhang Yu , female Chinese hurdler*Zhang Yu , Chinese actress*Zhang Yu , female Chinese basketball player*Zhang Yu , Chinese male swimmer*Zhang Yu...
, which is now stored in the Long Corridor
Long Corridor
The Long Corridor is a covered walkway in the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. First erected in the middle of the 18th century, it is famous for its length in conjunction with its rich painted decoration .-History:...
in the Summer Palace
Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is a palace in Beijing, China. The Summer Palace is mainly dominated by Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. It covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water....
. Modern Chinese writer Guo Moruo
Guo Moruo
Guo Moruo , courtesy name Dingtang , was a Chinese author, poet, historian, archaeologist, and government official from Sichuan, China.-Family history:Guo, originally named Guo Kaizhen, was born on November 10 or 16, in the small town of Shawan...
wrote a play on her life, and there also exists a Beijing opera
Beijing opera
Peking opera or Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court...
rendition. Also, a crater on Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
was named Cai Wenji, after her name.
Modern references
Cai Wenji appears as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce 2 and Dynasty Warriors 7Dynasty Warriors 7
is a hack and slash video game and the seventh official installment of the Dynasty Warriors series. It is developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game has been confirmed to be PS3 exclusive in Japan. The story is based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms....
(her debut as a playable character in North American and European ports). She also appears in Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (video game series)
, or Sangokushi in Japanese, is a series of turn-based tactical role-playing simulation grand strategy wargames produced by Koei. Originating from Japan in 1985, eleven installments of the game have been published in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and North America to date.-Overview:The games are...
video game series and in Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires as a NPC.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms
- List of Dynasty Warriors characters
Sources
- Book of Later HanBook of Later HanThe Book of the Later Han or the History of the Later Han is one of the official Chinese historical works which was compiled by Fan Ye in the 5th century, using a number of earlier histories and documents as sources...
, "Biographies of Women".