Cao (state)
Encyclopedia
The State of Cáo was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty
(1046 -221 BCE). The state was founded sometime in the 11th century BCE by Caoshu Zhènduó (d. 1053 BCE) （曹叔振鐸）, son of King Wen of Zhou
and the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou
. With its capital at Táoqiū
(陶丘), the State of Cáo covered roughly the area of modern day Dingtao County
, Shandong Province
. It was located on the flat country of the North China Plain
about 50 miles east of the point where the current course of the Yellow River
changes from east to north-east. To the northwest was Wey
, to the northeast Lu
and to the southeast Song
.
during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 770 BCE) was in 826 BCE when Youbo of Cao
was killed by his younger brother Daibo of Cao.
At the beginning of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BCE)，the State of Cao suffered internal upheaval. In 760 BCE, Duke Mu of Cao
killed his elder brother Cáo Fèibó and appointed himself the eleventh ruler. He was the first ruler of the State of Cáo to receive the posthumous title of "Duke" (公).
During the Spring and Autumn Period the State of Cáo became caught up in the struggle for hegemony between the states of Jìn and Chŭ
. In 637 BCE Chóng’ěr
, son of Duke Xian of Jin
got into difficulties when passing through the State of Cáo and was treated rudely by Duke Gòng of Cáo
.
About 630 it was a vassal or ally of Chu. When Chu attacked Song, Jin made a diversionary attack on Cao. After Jin defeated Chu at the Battle of Chengpu
in 632 BCE, Jìn crushed the State of Cáo, rescued the State of Song
and took Duke Gòng of Cáo prisoner. After the defeat of the State of Chŭ, Cáo followed the orders of its near neighbour the State of Jin.
Later on, the States of Cáo and Sòng became hostile towards each other. Duke Jĭng of Sòng captured Duke Dào of Cáo
in 515 BCE and held him prisoner until his death. Thereafter, disorder broke out in Cáo and Duke Dào’s successors Duke Shēng of Cáo and Duke Yĭn of Cáo were killed one after another. Duke Fèi of Cáo became ruler and betrayed the State of Jin by invading the State of Sòng. As a result, Duke Jĭng of Sòng attacked Cáo. No troops from the State of Jìn came to the rescue such that the State of Cáo was exterminated in 487 BCE after the capture of Duke Fèi of Cáo.
.
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
(1046 -221 BCE). The state was founded sometime in the 11th century BCE by Caoshu Zhènduó (d. 1053 BCE) （曹叔振鐸）, son of King Wen of Zhou
King Wen of Zhou
King Wen of Zhou family name : Ji , Clan name : Zhou Personal name: Chang, known as Zhou Chang or Xibo Chang was the founder of the Zhou Dynasty and the first epic hero of Chinese history....
and the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou
King Wu of Zhou
King Wu of Zhōu or King Wu of Chou was the first sovereign, or ruler of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1046-1043 BCE or 1049/45-1043. Various sources quoted that he died at the age of 93, 54 or 43. He was considered a just and able leader. Zhou Gong Dan was one of his...
. With its capital at Táoqiū
Dingtao County
Dingtao County is a county under the jurisdiction of Heze in Shandong province, China. It has a very long history. Its name originated during the Warring States Period from Fan Li, a famous chancellor in the Yue kingdom...
(陶丘), the State of Cáo covered roughly the area of modern day Dingtao County
Dingtao County
Dingtao County is a county under the jurisdiction of Heze in Shandong province, China. It has a very long history. Its name originated during the Warring States Period from Fan Li, a famous chancellor in the Yue kingdom...
, Shandong Province
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
. It was located on the flat country of the North China Plain
North China Plain
The North China Plain is based on the deposits of the Yellow River and is the largest alluvial plain of eastern Asia. The plain is bordered on the north by the Yanshan Mountains and on the west by the Taihang Mountains edge of the Shanxi plateau. To the south, it merges into the Yangtze Plain...
about 50 miles east of the point where the current course of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
changes from east to north-east. To the northwest was Wey
Wei (Spring and Autumn Period)
This article is about the State of Wei founded during the Spring and Autumn Period. For the Warring States Period state whose name is pronounced identically, see Wei ....
, to the northeast Lu
Lu (state)
The State of Lu, was a Zhou Dynasty ducal vassal state before and during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. Founded in the 10th century BC, its dukes used Ji as their family name. The first duke was Boqin |Qi]] and to the south by the powerful state of Chu...
and to the southeast Song
Song (state)
Sòng was a state during the Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period . Its capital was Shangqiu . In 701 BC, a political marriage between Lady Yong of Song and Duke Zhuang of Zheng empowered Song to manipulate the management of Zheng.- Origin :After King Wu of Zhou overthrew King Zhou of Shang,...
.
History
As a result of the Cao’s relative weakness, later generations wrote few records on events concerning the state's history. The only major event recorded in the Records of the Grand HistorianRecords of the Grand Historian
The Records of the Grand Historian, also known in English by the Chinese name Shiji , written from 109 BC to 91 BC, was the Magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the Yellow Emperor until his own time...
during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 770 BCE) was in 826 BCE when Youbo of Cao
Youbo of Cao
Youbo of Cao was the seventh ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Western Zhou Dynasty . Born Jī Jiāng , he was the son of Xiaobo of Cao and the younger brother of Yibo of Cao ....
was killed by his younger brother Daibo of Cao.
At the beginning of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BCE)，the State of Cao suffered internal upheaval. In 760 BCE, Duke Mu of Cao
Duke Mu of Cao
Duke Mu of Cao was the eleventh ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Eastern Zhou Dynasty and Spring and Autumn Period. Born Jī Wǔ , he was the son of Cáo Huìbó . In 760 BCE, Duke Mu of Cao killed his elder brotherCáo Fèibó and appointed himself ruler of the State of Cao...
killed his elder brother Cáo Fèibó and appointed himself the eleventh ruler. He was the first ruler of the State of Cáo to receive the posthumous title of "Duke" (公).
During the Spring and Autumn Period the State of Cáo became caught up in the struggle for hegemony between the states of Jìn and Chŭ
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
. In 637 BCE Chóng’ěr
Duke Wen of Jin
Duke Jin Wen led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His ancestral name is Ji,clan name is Jin Duke Jin Wen (晋文公) (697 BC - 628 BC) led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His ancestral...
, son of Duke Xian of Jin
Duke Xian of Jin
Duke Xian of Jin , Ancestral name is Ji, given name is Guizhu , was the nineteenth ruler of the State of Jin. He was also the ninth ruler of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period and the second duke of Jin. When his father, Duke Wu of Jin, died in 677 BC, Guizhu ascended the throne of Jin and became...
got into difficulties when passing through the State of Cáo and was treated rudely by Duke Gòng of Cáo
Duke Gong of Cao
Duke Gong of Cao was the seventeenth ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period . Born Jī Xiāng he was the son of Duke Zhao of Cao....
.
About 630 it was a vassal or ally of Chu. When Chu attacked Song, Jin made a diversionary attack on Cao. After Jin defeated Chu at the Battle of Chengpu
Battle of Chengpu
The Battle of Chengpu took place in 632 BC between the State of Jin and the State of Chu and its allies during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. It was the first great battle in the protracted conflict between the states of the Yellow River valley, and the states of the Yangtze...
in 632 BCE, Jìn crushed the State of Cáo, rescued the State of Song
Song (state)
Sòng was a state during the Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period . Its capital was Shangqiu . In 701 BC, a political marriage between Lady Yong of Song and Duke Zhuang of Zheng empowered Song to manipulate the management of Zheng.- Origin :After King Wu of Zhou overthrew King Zhou of Shang,...
and took Duke Gòng of Cáo prisoner. After the defeat of the State of Chŭ, Cáo followed the orders of its near neighbour the State of Jin.
Later on, the States of Cáo and Sòng became hostile towards each other. Duke Jĭng of Sòng captured Duke Dào of Cáo
Duke Dao of Cao
Duke Dao of Cao was the twenty-second ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period . Born Jī Wŭ he was the son of Duke Ping of Cao from whom he inherited the throne.-References:...
in 515 BCE and held him prisoner until his death. Thereafter, disorder broke out in Cáo and Duke Dào’s successors Duke Shēng of Cáo and Duke Yĭn of Cáo were killed one after another. Duke Fèi of Cáo became ruler and betrayed the State of Jin by invading the State of Sòng. As a result, Duke Jĭng of Sòng attacked Cáo. No troops from the State of Jìn came to the rescue such that the State of Cáo was exterminated in 487 BCE after the capture of Duke Fèi of Cáo.
Legacy
Descendents of the people of Cáo adopted the name of their former state. This is one origin of the Chinese Surname CáoCao (surname)
Cao is the Pinyin romanization of several Chinese family names, including 曹 Cáo, 操 Cāo, 草 Cǎo along with other possible rarer characters. Using the Wade-Giles system, Tsao is romanized as Ts'ao, also spelled Tsao....
.
Rulers of Cao
| English Name | Reign name | Personal name | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cao Shu Zhenduo | 曹叔振鐸 (Cáo Shū Zhènduó) | 振鐸/振铎 ( Zhènduó) | ? – 1053 BCE |
| Taibo of Cao | 曹太伯 (Cáo Tàibó) | 脾 ( Pí) | 1053–1002 BCE |
| Lord Zhong of Cao | 曹仲君 (Cáo Zhòng Jū) | 平 ( Píng) | 1002 – 935 BCE |
| Gongbo of Cao | 曹宮伯 (Cáo Gōngbó) | 侯 ( Hóu) | 935 - 895 BCE |
| Xiaobo of Cao | 曹孝伯 (Cáo Xiàobó) | 云 ( Yún) | 895 - 865 BCE |
| Yibo of Cao | 曹夷伯 (Cáo Yíbó) | 喜 ( Xǐ) | 864 - 835 BCE |
| Youbo of Cao Youbo of Cao Youbo of Cao was the seventh ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Western Zhou Dynasty . Born Jī Jiāng , he was the son of Xiaobo of Cao and the younger brother of Yibo of Cao .... |
曹幽伯 (Cáo Yōubó) | 疆 (Jiāng) | 835 – 826 BCE |
| Daibo of Cao | 曹戴伯 (Cáo Dàibó) | 蘇/苏 ( Sū) | 826 – 796 BCE |
| Huibo of Cao | 曹惠伯 (Cáo Huìbó) | 兕 ( Sì) | 794 – 760 BCE |
| Feibo of Cao | 曹廢伯 (Cáo Fèibó) | 石甫 ( Shífǔ) | 760 – 760 BCE |
| Duke Mu of Cao Duke Mu of Cao Duke Mu of Cao was the eleventh ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Eastern Zhou Dynasty and Spring and Autumn Period. Born Jī Wǔ , he was the son of Cáo Huìbó . In 760 BCE, Duke Mu of Cao killed his elder brotherCáo Fèibó and appointed himself ruler of the State of Cao... |
曹穆公 (Cáo Mù Gōng) | 武 ( Wǔ) | 759– 757 BCE |
| Duke Huan of Cao | 曹桓公 (Cáo Huán Gōng) | 終生/终生 ( Zhōng Shēng) | 756 – 702 BCE |
| Duke Zhuang of Cao | 曹莊公/曹庄公 (Cáo Zhuāng Gōng) | 射姑 ( Shègū) | 701 – 671 BCE |
| Duke Li of Cao | 曹釐公/曹厘公 (Cáo Lǐ Gōng) | 夷 ( Yí) | 670 – 662 BCE |
| Duke Zhao of Cao | 曹昭公 (Cáo Zhāo Gōng) | 班 ( Bān) | 661 – 653 BCE |
| Duke Gong of Cao Duke Gong of Cao Duke Gong of Cao was the seventeenth ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period . Born Jī Xiāng he was the son of Duke Zhao of Cao.... |
曹共公 (Cáo Gòng Gōng) | 姬襄 (Jī Xiāng) | 652 -618 BCE |
| Duke Wen of Cao | 曹文公 (Cáo Wén Gōng) | 壽/寿 ( Shòu) | 617 – 595 BCE |
| Duke Xuan of Cao | 曹宣公 (Cáo Xuān Gōng) | 彊 ( Qiáng) | 594 – 578 BCE |
| Duke Cheng of Cao | 曹成公 (Cáo Chéng Gōng) | 負芻/负刍( Fùchú) | 577 – 555 BCE |
| Duke Wu of Cao | 曹武公 (Cáo Wǔ Gōng) | 勝/胜 ( Shèng) | 554 – 528 BCE |
| Duke Ping of Cao | 曹平公 (Cáo Píng Gōng) | 須/须 ( Xū) | 527 – 524 BCE |
| Duke Dao of Cao Duke Dao of Cao Duke Dao of Cao was the twenty-second ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period . Born Jī Wŭ he was the son of Duke Ping of Cao from whom he inherited the throne.-References:... |
曹悼公 (Cáo Dào Gōng) | 午( Wǔ) | 523 – 515 BCE |
| Duke Sheng of Cao | 曹聲公/曹声公 (Cáo Shēng Gōng) | 野 ( Yě) | 514 – 510 BCE |
| Duke Yin of Cao | 曹隱公/曹隐公 (Cáo Yǐn Gōng) | 通 (Tōng) | 509 – 506 BCE |
| Duke Jing of Cao | 曹靖公 (Cáo Jìng Gōng) | 露 ( Lù) | 505 – 502 BCE |
| Cao Bo yang | 曹伯陽 (Cáo Bóyáng | 伯陽/伯阳 ( Bóyáng) | 501 – 487 BCE |
External links
- Chinese Text Project “Rulers of the States”