What Three Kingdoms?
“What was the Three Kingdoms period of China? When did it start and when did it end?”
The Three Kingdoms Period of China was a time of great upheaval and political turmoil between the end of the Han dynasty and the establishment of the Jin dynasty, lasting from 220 to 280 AD. This time period is named after the three kingdoms that emerged during this time: the Cao Wei Kingdom, the Shu Han Kingdom, and the Eastern Wu Kingdom.
Cao Wei (220–265 CE): Founded by Cao Pi and based in the northern regions of China. His father, Cao Cao, was a prominent warlord and statesman who played a crucial role in the latter part of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and is sometimes also portrayed as the leader of this faction.
Shu Han (221–263 CE): Founded by Liu Bei and situated in the south-western part of China, primarily in the Sichuan Basin. Liu Bei had a claim to the imperial throne based on his lineage, and is often portrayed as righteous and benevolent.
Eastern Wu (229–280 CE): Founded by Sun Quan, and located in the south-eastern coastal regions of China, centered around the Yangtze River. His father, Sun Jian, and elder brother, Sun Ce, began the work that would eventually lead to the forming of the Eastern Wu kingdom, but neither lived to see it founded.
The Three Kingdoms period was marked by military conflicts, political intrigue, and strategic alliances as these three states vied for supremacy over the fragmented realm. It eventually came to an end when the state of Wei conquered Shu in 263 CE, and then Wu in 280 CE, reuniting China under the Jin Dynasty.
The historical events and characters of the Three Kingdoms period have been extensively recorded in the historical text "Records of the Three Kingdoms" written by Chen Shou, as well as in various novels, particularly the famous "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" written by Luo Guanzhong during the Ming Dynasty. These accounts have contributed to the enduring fascination with this period in Chinese history.
It’s my own fascination with “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” in particular that fuels this blog, so a lot of the content herein will be focused more on that than on historical record. It helps to know the differences though!
