Wei

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

3.0

Word count: 794 words
Chapters: 8

Summary

Wei (December 10, 220 – February 4, 266) was one of the rival regimes during the Three Kingdoms period. Later historians mostly call it Cao Wei. Because the later Northern Wei was called "Later Wei," Cao Wei is also called "Former Wei" or "Early Wei." It was the strongest state among the Three Kingdoms.

Editor's review

This book takes the Cao Wei regime as its subject. It is concise yet information-dense, suitable as an introductory reader for quickly understanding the northern political entity of the Three Kingdoms. The editor does not lay out dramatic plots in the style of historical romance; instead, the book outlines a clear timeline around the establishment, development, and end of Cao Wei, while also covering institutional changes and historical context. The title uses only the single character "Wei," reflecting a summary, outline-style approach. Readers can build an overall understanding of Cao Wei's historical coordinates in a short reading time. This edition, compiled and published by Bashu Publishing House, is convenient to carry and suitable for fragmented reading, whether on a desk or during a commute. For readers already familiar with Three Kingdoms stories but lacking a firm grasp of the official history, this book can correct misconceptions and fill gaps; for readers new to Three Kingdoms history, it can serve as a foundation before further reading of works such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Introductory history readers who want to quickly understand the basic outline of the Cao Wei regime
Readers who have read Romance of the Three Kingdoms but want to distinguish historical fact from literary dramatization
Those who need concise Three Kingdoms background material for teaching or writing
General literature and history enthusiasts interested in political change in the late Han and Wei-Jin period

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers expecting in-depth institutional analysis or specialized textual research
Readers hoping for detailed accounts of wars and biographies of figures
Readers who prefer long-form narrative or literary historical writing

Reading tips

First read through the book to outline the Cao Wei timeline, then use maps to mark territorial changes.
Take notes on key figures and events while reading for later consultation of official histories.
Read selected relevant annals and biographies from the Records of the Three Kingdoms alongside it to deepen understanding of the same events.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
○葛屦
○汾沮洳
○园有桃
○陟岵
○十亩之间
○伐檀
○硕鼠

FAQ

Is this book a historical romance or a history book?

Judging from its content, it is a history book that outlines the establishment and continuation of the Cao Wei regime and does not use the narrative style of historical romance. Readers should not expect novelistic dialogue and scene descriptions; they should treat it as a concise reader for understanding the basic historical facts of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period.

Can I understand it without a foundation in Three Kingdoms history?

Yes. The book is limited in length, and its narrative is mainly an overview that does not depend on complex prior knowledge. Readers need only a general impression of the warlord divisions in the late Eastern Han to read smoothly. If you encounter unfamiliar names or places, you can use the background explanations or maps before and after the main text.

Why is the title simply "Wei" rather than "Cao Wei"?

The book explains the origins of the terms Cao Wei, Former Wei, and Early Wei: later generations often called this regime Cao Wei to distinguish it from Northern Wei. The single-character title "Wei" reflects a writing approach centered on the regime itself. The differences in naming are explained in the main text, and readers need only take note while reading.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.