Famous statesman, general, and poet (155-220 AD) who was a key figure of the Three Kingdoms period and the founder of the state of [[曹魏|曹魏|cao2 wei4]]; known for his military genius and as a central character in the novel [[三国演义|三國演義|san1 guo2 yan3 yi4]].

Chinese author during the Qing Dynasty, most famous for writing the classic novel [[红楼梦|紅樓夢|hong2 lou2 meng4]].

Famous poet and calligrapher (192-232) of the Three Kingdoms period; third son of [[曹操|曹操|cao2 cao1]] and younger brother of [[曹丕|曹丕|cao2 pi1]].

Cao Gangchuan (1935-), former artillery officer and senior politician who served as a high-ranking military leader in the People's Republic of China

Pen name of Wan Jiabao (1910-1997), a prominent modern Chinese playwright and dramatist

Cao Pi (187–226), first emperor of [[曹魏|曹魏|cao2 wei4]] (r. 220–226) and son of [[曹操|曹操|cao2 cao1]]; posthumously known as Emperor Wen of Wei; a renowned poet, calligrapher, and author of the 'Dianlun' who, with his father and brother [[曹植|曹植|cao2 zhi2]], is one of the 'Three Caos'

the Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period (220-265), established by Cao Pi, son of Cao Cao; it is called Cao Wei to distinguish it from the Northern Wei founded by the Tuoba family

Cao County in Heze [[菏泽|菏澤|he2 ze2]], Shandong Province

Cao Kun (1862-1938), a prominent Northern Warlord who served as President of the Republic of China from 1923 to 1924

Cao Can (died 190 BC), a major general and the second chancellor of the Han Dynasty; he was a key supporter of [[刘邦|劉邦|liu2 bang1]] and is famous for continuing the policies of his predecessor [[萧何|蕭何|xiao1 he2]].

to remain loyal to a former cause or leader while being forced to work for another, as exemplified by [[关羽|關羽|guan1 yu3]] while in the service of [[曹操|曹操|cao2 cao1]]

the netherworld or kingdom of the underworld; the place where souls are said to go after death to be judged for their deeds in life according to folklore and folk religion

Palace eunuch during the Eastern Han Dynasty who wielded significant power and opposed officials like Chen Fan

famous filial daughter of the Han dynasty who drowned while attempting to retrieve her father's body from the river

A river in eastern Zhejiang province; it is the second largest tributary of the [[钱塘江|錢塘江|qian2 tang2 jiang1]] and was named after the Eastern Han filial daughter Cao'e

the underworld or the world of the dead in Chinese folklore; also refers to the administrative courts of the afterlife

Cao Chong (196-208), a child prodigy and son of the warlord [[曹操|曹操|cao2 cao1]]

To strictly follow the rules or policies set by one's predecessor. This refers to the Han dynasty official [[曹参|曹參|cao2 can1]] who continued the governance style established by [[萧何|蕭何|xiao1 he2]].

Cao Jinghua (1897-1987), a famous Chinese translator of Russian literature, essayist, and professor at Peking University

Imperial Brother-in-law Cao, one of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. He is traditionally depicted wearing official robes and carrying jade tablets. According to legend, he was the brother of Empress Cao of the Song Dynasty who gave up his wealth and status to pursue spiritual cultivation in the mountains.

cobia; black kingfish (Rachycentron canadum)

the Odes of Cao, a section of the Classic of Poetry consisting of four poems from the State of Cao during the Zhou Dynasty

The Three Caos, referring to the poet-statesmen [[曹操|曹操|cao2 cao1]] and his sons [[曹丕|曹丕|cao2 pi1]] and [[曹植|曹植|cao2 zhi2]] who founded the [[曹魏|曹魏|cao2 wei4]] dynasty.

The simultaneous appearance of the plaintiff, the defendant, and the witness in court to confront one another during a trial.

(literary) both parties in a lawsuit (plaintiff and defendant)

(bound form) an official in charge of court ceremonies and rituals during the Three Kingdoms period and later dynasties until the Tang dynasty

(colloquial) to lose face; to be humiliated; to be disgraced

(literary) children; the younger generation; used by elders when referring to or addressing their children or juniors

(literary) an official registrar or scribe in ancient Chinese government offices responsible for documents and seals

the netherworld or hell in Chinese mythology

(literary) to handle official business or perform duties at a government office; used to describe officials or clerks working at their posts

(historical) celestial government offices or departments in heaven

you all; you people

(literary) a busy market area where shops are concentrated, historically used as a site for public executions

(literary or archaic) we; us

Cao Buxing (active c. 210-250), famous semilegendary painter of the Three Kingdoms period and one of the [[六朝四大家|六朝四大家|liu4 chao2 si4 da4 jia1]]; considered a pioneer of Buddhist painting and renowned for his lifelike style.

Cao Yuzhang (1924-1996), modern writer and publisher, author of "Tales from 5000 Years of Chinese History" [[上下五千年|上下五千年|shang4 xia4 wu3 qian1 nian2]]

A famous Han Dynasty stone stele established in 185 AD, discovered in the Ming Dynasty. It is highly regarded for its elegant clerical script and is widely used as a model for calligraphy students. The text commemorates the administrative deeds of Cao Quan, the magistrate of Heyang. Also called [[曹景完碑|曹景完碑|cao2 jing3 wan2 bei1]]

a xiehouyu (allegorical saying) whose answer is [[一鼓作气|一鼓作氣|yi1 gu3 zuo4 qi4]]; based on the story of Cao Gui from the "Zuo Zhuan"

An honorary name for [[班昭|班昭|ban1 zhao1]], a famous female historian and scholar of the Eastern Han dynasty. After the death of her brother [[班固|班固|ban1 gu4]], she was ordered by Emperor He to finish writing the "Book of Han". She served as a teacher to the empress and other noble ladies in the imperial court, where she was given the title [[大家|大家|da4 gu1]].

A famous Han dynasty stone tablet erected to honor the filial daughter [[曹娥|曹娥|cao2 e2]]; the original stone is lost, but the text survives as a renowned model for small regular script calligraphy often attributed to [[王羲之|王羲之|wang2 xi1 zhi1]].

an indigenous people of Taiwan, primarily residing in the central mountains

alternative name for the Cao Quan Stele, a famous Han Dynasty stone monument from 185 AD valued for its clerical script calligraphy

one of the five major schools of Chan Buddhism, founded during the Tang Dynasty and known as the Soto school in Japan

One of the five main houses of Chan Buddhism, founded during the Tang dynasty by Masters Liangjie and Benji; it emphasizes the interdependence of the absolute and the relative, and was later transmitted to Japan where it became the Soto school.

Chinese herring; white herring; slender shad

Cao Ba (circa 704–770), a famous painter of the Tang Dynasty noted for his portraits and paintings of horses; he was a descendant of the Wei Dynasty imperial family and served as a general under Emperor Xuanzong.

(literary) general term for judicial or legal officers, such as judges and prosecutors

(idiom) to tie a prisoner's hands behind their back and take them to a busy market square for public execution; historically used to serve as a warning to others