Who’s Wei?
“What was important about the Cao Wei kingdom? Who led it and what claim did it have on the Imperial Throne?”
Eventually established as the dominant state among the three, Cao Wei was founded and led by Cao Pi, the son of Cao Cao, a prominent warlord and statesman who played a crucial role in the latter part of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Cao Pi justified his usurpation of the Han throne by arguing that the last Han emperor was an ineffective ruler, and he portrayed himself as a legitimate successor who could restore order and stability to the realm. Cao Pi's decision to establish his own dynasty marked the formal division of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period.
Cao Wei initially controlled the northern and central regions of China. Its capital was Luoyang, a key historical city. As well as expanding its influence and territory over time through military conquests and diplomatic maneuvers, Cao Wei implemented administrative and legal reforms aimed at consolidating its power and strengthening its governance. These reforms included the establishment of a centralized bureaucratic system, land redistribution, and the promotion of Confucianism as the state ideology.
Cao Wei's dominance continued under the reigns of Cao Pi's successors, including Cao Rui and Cao Fang. However, internal strife and external pressures eventually weakened the state. In 263 CE, Cao Wei successfully conquered Shu Han, effectively eliminating one of its major rivals. Cao Wei continued to rule until 265 CE when Sima Yan, a general of the Jin Dynasty, forced the abdication of the last Cao Wei ruler.
It’s worth noting that although Cao Wei as a kingdom was founded by Cao Pi, it is more commonly associated with his father, and Cao Cao arguably plays a more important role in the novel.
In the Koei Tecmo game series, Dynasty Warriors, the kingdom of Wei is associated with the colour blue (specifically dark blue after the introduction of Jin as a faction) and is symbolised by a phoenix. These associations sometimes find their way into other works too, and I’ve stuck with the colour scheme for this blog as well!
