Cao Cao

Cao Cao (155–220), courtesy name Mengde, was a native of Qiao County in the Principality of Pei (present-day Bozhou, Anhui). A prominent statesman, military strategist, writer and poet of the late Eastern Han, he laid the foundation of the Cao Wei regime. He unified northern China, promoted military farming and the merit-based recruitment of talent, was later made King of Wei, and was posthumously honored as Emperor Wu of Wei. His poetry helped shape the Jian'an literary style; representative works include "Viewing the Blue Ocean," "The Tortoise Though Long-Lived," "A Short Song" and "Song of Haoli," and his writings survive in the Collected Works of Cao Cao. This site holds 12 of his works, including an illustrated collector's edition of The Art of War, Cao Cao's Brief Commentary on The Art of War and Cao Cao Lectures on The Art of War, as well as the Collected Works of Cao Cao, the Collected Works of Emperor Wu of Wei and selections of Wei and Jin poetry. Covering military affairs, Eastern philosophy, classical poetry and literary appreciation, these works show his mastery of both warfare and letters.