History of China
ANCIENT
3 Sovereigns and 5 Emperors
Xia Dynasty 2100–1600 BC
Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 BC
Zhou Dynasty 1122–256 BC
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn Period
Warring States Period
IMPERIAL
Qin Dynasty 221 BC–206 BC
Han Dynasty 206 BC–220 AD
Western Han
Xin Dynasty
Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Wei, Shu & Wu
Jin Dynasty 265–420
Western Jin
Eastern Jin	16 Kingdoms 304–439
Southern & Northern Dynasties 420–589
Sui Dynasty 581–618
Tang Dynasty 618–907
( Second Zhou 690–705 )
5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 907–960	Liao Dynasty 907–1125
Song Dynasty 960–1279
Northern Song		W. Xia Dyn.
Southern Song	Jin Dyn.
Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368
Ming Dynasty 1368–1644
Qing Dynasty 1644–1911
MODERN
Republic of China 1912–1949
People's Republic of China 1949–present    1949-1976    1976-1989    1989-2002    2002-present	Republic of China (on Taiwan) 1945-present
Dynasties in Chinese History Economic History of China Historiography of China History of Chinese Art History of Education in China History of Science and Technology in China Legal History of China Linguistic History of China Military History of China Naval History of China Timeline of Chinese History
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The Three Kingdoms period (traditional Chinese: 三國; simplified Chinese: 三国; pinyin: Sānguó) is a period in the history of China, part of an era of disunity called the Six Dynasties following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty emperors. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors ( were mythological rulers of China during the period from c The Xia Dynasty ( of China is the first dynasty to be described in ancient historical records such as Records of the Grand Historian and The Shang Dynasty ( Chinese: 商[[wiktionary 朝|朝]] or Yin Dynasty ( 殷[[wiktionary 代|代]] was according to traditional sources the The Zhou Dynasty ( POJ: Chiu Tiau 1122 BC to 256 BC was preceded by the Shang Dynasty and followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. The Zhou Dynasty ( POJ: Chiu Tiau 1122 BC to 256 BC was preceded by the Shang Dynasty and followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. The Zhou Dynasty ( POJ: Chiu Tiau 1122 BC to 256 BC was preceded by the Shang Dynasty and followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. The Spring and Autumn Period ( was a period in Chinese history which roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (from the second half of the 8th century BC The Warring States Period ( also known as the Era of Warring States covers the period from some time in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the Not to be confused with the Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty of China The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The Xin Dynasty ( was a Chinese Dynasty (although strictly speaking it had only one Emperor) which lasted from 9 - 23 AD The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Cao Wei ( was one of the empires that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period Shu Han ( Traditional Chinese: 蜀漢 Pinyin: Shǔ Hàn sometimes known as the Kingdom of Shu (蜀 shǔ was one of the Three Kingdoms competing Eastern Wu ( Chinese: 東吳 Pinyin: Dōng Wú also known as Sun Wu ( Traditional Chinese: 孫吳 pinyin Sūn Wú refers to a The Jìn Dynasty ( 265 – 420) one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties The Jìn Dynasty ( 265 – 420) one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties The Jìn Dynasty ( 265 – 420) one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties The Sixteen Kingdoms ( or less commonly the Sixteen States, were a collection of numerous short-lived sovereign states in China proper and its neighboring areas This article is about the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Wu Zetian ( (625 – December 16, 705 In 705 she was overthrown in a coup and Emperor Zhongzong was returned to the throne Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms ( 907-960 was an era of political upheaval in China, beginning in the Tang Dynasty and ending in the Song Dynasty. The Liao Dynasty ( 907 - 1125, also known as the Khitan Empire (契丹國 was an empire in northern China that ruled over the regions of Manchuria The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Xi Xia redirects here For a Chinese general whose name may be transliterated as Xi Xia see Xi Qia The Western Xia Dynasty ( or The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms This is an article for the Jurchen Jin Dynasty (1115–1234 For other Chinese dynasties whose names are also rendered "Jin" in Pinyin, see Jin Dynasty The Yuan Dynasty ( Pinyin: Yuáncháo Dai Ön Ulus (Дай Юан Улс was a ruling Dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China This article discusses history of the state which currently governs Taiwan Area. The history of the People's Republic of China details the history of Mainland China since October 1, 1949, when after a near complete victory See also History of China, History of the People's Republic of China Early 1950s Social revolution The People's Republic of China was founded on See also History of China, History of the People's Republic of China Power struggles after Mao's death See also History of China, History of the People's Republic of China Recovery in the 1990s Post-Tiananmen The Tiananmen Square protests See also History of China, History of the People's Republic of China "Fourth Generation" The Hu-Wen Administration Power transition The Republic of China on Taiwan era ( also known as the postwar era ( refers to the period in Taiwan's history, between the end of World War II This article discusses the history of Taiwan (including the Pescadores) The following is a Chronology of the dynasties in Chinese history. China was the largest economy on earth for most of the recorded history of the past two millennia Chinese Historiography refers to the study of methods and assumptions made in studying Chinese history. Chinese art is Art that whether ancient or modern originated in or is practiced in China or by Chinese artists or performers The history of education in China began with the birth of Chinese civilization. The history of Science and Technology in China is both long and rich with many contributions to science and technology See also Chinese law The origin of the current Law of the People's Republic of China can be traced back to the period of the early 1930s during the establishment of the The recorded military history of China extends from about 1500 BC to the present day The naval history of China dates back thousands of years with archives existing since the late Spring and Autumn Period ( 722 BC - 481 BC) about the The following is a Timeline of the History of China. Between the changing of the dynasties, most dates overlap as ruling periods do not transfer immediately Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era Six Dynasties ( Chinese: 六朝 Pinyin: Liù Cháo is a collective noun for six Chinese dynasties during the periods of the Three Kingdoms ( The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the Wei in 220 and the conquest of the Wu by the Jin Dynasty in 280. Cao Wei ( was one of the empires that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period Events By Place Roman Empire The Goths invade Asia Minor and the Balkans. Eastern Wu ( Chinese: 東吳 Pinyin: Dōng Wú also known as Sun Wu ( Traditional Chinese: 孫吳 pinyin Sūn Wú refers to a The Jìn Dynasty ( 265 – 420) one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties Events By Place Roman Empire Emperor Probus suppresses the revolt of the usurper Proculus. However, many Chinese historians and laymen extend the starting point of this period back to the uprising of the Yellow Turbans in 184. The Yellow Turban Rebellion, sometimes also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, ( was a AD 184 peasant rebellion against Emperor Ling of Han Events By place Roman Empire The Antonine Wall is permanently abandoned

The three kingdoms were Wei (魏), Shu (蜀), and Wu (吳). Cao Wei ( was one of the empires that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period Shu Han ( Traditional Chinese: 蜀漢 Pinyin: Shǔ Hàn sometimes known as the Kingdom of Shu (蜀 shǔ was one of the Three Kingdoms competing Eastern Wu ( Chinese: 東吳 Pinyin: Dōng Wú also known as Sun Wu ( Traditional Chinese: 孫吳 pinyin Sūn Wú refers to a To distinguish these states from other historical Chinese states of the same name, historians prepended a character: Wei is also known as Cao Wei (曹魏), Shu is also known as Shu Han (蜀漢), and Wu is also known as Dong Wu or Eastern Wu (東吳). The term Three Kingdoms itself is somewhat of a mistranslation, since each state was eventually headed by an emperor who claimed legitimate succession from the Han Dynasty, not by kings. An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Nevertheless the term has become standard among sinologists. Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China but especially in the American academic context refers more strictly to the study of classical language

The earlier, "unofficial" part of the period, from 190 to 220, was marked by chaotic infighting between warlords in various parts of China. Events By Place Roman Empire A part of Rome burns and Emperor Commodus orders the city to be rebuilt under the name Events By Place Roman Empire The Goths invade Asia Minor and the Balkans. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Among those being Lu Bu (吕布), one of the strongest of the warlords. His execution in 198 signified an alliance between Shu Han leader Liu Bei (刘备) and Wei ruler Cao Cao (曹操), due to the fact that it was by both of their hands that the "beast Lu Bu" was hanged. The middle part of the period, from 220 and 263, was marked by a more militarily stable arrangement between three rival states, Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. Events By Place Roman Empire The Goths invade Asia Minor and the Balkans. Events By Place Roman Empire The Goths invade Ephesus and destroy city and temple This, causing a more tense relationship between each state, soon sprouted new alliances. Shu Han was often seen in alliance with Eastern Wu to topple the gigantic Wei kingdom in the north. Wei also coerced with Eastern Wu in alliance against Shu Han. The later part of this period was marked by the collapse of the tripartite situation: first the destruction of Shu by Wei (263), then the overthrow of Wei by the Jin Dynasty (265), and the destruction of Wu by Jin (280). Events By Place Roman Empire The Goths invade Ephesus and destroy city and temple The Jìn Dynasty ( 265 – 420) one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties Events By Place Roman Empire Gallienus repels the invasion of the Goths in the Balkans. Events By Place Roman Empire Emperor Probus suppresses the revolt of the usurper Proculus.

Although relatively short, this historical period has been greatly romanticised in the cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The Culture of China (traditional Chinese 中國文化 simplified Chinese 中国文化 is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex Civilizations covering a history China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially It has been celebrated and popularised in operas, folk stories, novels and in more recent times, films, television serials, and video games. A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The best known of these is undoubtedly the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a fictional account of the period which draws heavily on history. Romance of the Three Kingdoms ( written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese Historical novel based upon events in The authoritative historical record of the era is Chen Shou's Sanguo Zhi, along with Pei Songzhi's later annotations of the text. Chen Shou (233–297 born in Nanchong, Sichuan, was the author of the Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the Three The Records of Three Kingdoms ( is the official and authoritative historical text on the period of Three Kingdoms covering from 189 to 280,

The Three Kingdoms period is one of the bloodiest in Chinese history. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era A population census in late Eastern Han Dynasty reported a population of approximately 50 million,^[1] while a population census in early Western Jin Dynasty (after Jin re‐unified China) reported a population of approximately 16 million. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. ^[1] Even after taking into account possible inaccuracies of these census reports, a large percentage of the population was wiped out during the constant wars waged during this period.

Technology advances significantly during this period. Zhuge Liang invented the wooden ox, suggested to be an early form of the wheelbarrow. Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China The wooden ox (木牛流馬， lit wooden ox flowing horse was created by Zhuge Liang while he served Shu-Han. A wheelbarrow is a small hand-propelled vehicle usually with just one Wheel, designed to be pushed and guided by a single person using two handles to the rear or a sail A brilliant mechanical engineer known as Ma Jun, in the Kingdom of Wei, is considered by many to be as brilliant as his predecessor Zhang Heng. Mechanical Engineering is an Engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis Design, Manufacturing Ma Jun (fl 220&ndash265 styled Deheng (徳衡 was a Chinese Mechanical Engineer and government official during the Three Kingdoms Zhang Heng ( (CE 78–139 was an astronomer, mathematician, inventor, geographer, cartographer, artist, poet He invented a hydraulic‐powered, mechanical puppet theatre designed for Emperor Ming of Wei (Cao Rui), square‐pallet chain pumps for irrigation of gardens in Luoyang, and the ingenious design of the South Pointing Chariot, a non‐magnetic directional compass operated by differential gears. For the mechanical technology see Hydraulic machinery and Hydraulic cylinder Hydraulics is a topic of science and Engineering Cao Rui ( 205 - 22 January 239) was the son of Cao Pi and the second emperor of the Cao Wei. The chain pump is a type of water Pump where an endless chain has positioned on it a series of circular discs Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. The South Pointing Chariot is widely regarded as one of the most complex Geared mechanism of the ancient Chinese civilization, and was continually used throughout the In Physics, magnetism is one of the Phenomena by which Materials exert attractive or repulsive Forces on other Materials. A compass, magnetic compass or mariner's compass is a navigational instrument for determining direction relative to the earth's Magnetic poles It consists This article deals with the concept of a differential in mechanical engineering.

Contents 1 Collapse of dynastic power 2 The rise of Cao Cao 3 Red Cliffs and its aftermath 4 Three emperors 4.1 Population 4.2 Trade and transport 4.3 Consolidation 4.4 Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions 4.5 Wu and development of the south 5 Decline and end of the Three Kingdoms 5.1 Fall of Shu 5.2 Fall of Wei 5.3 Fall of Wu 6 The Three Kingdoms in popular culture 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

Collapse of dynastic power

What is traditionally thought of as the beginning of the "unofficial" Three Kingdoms Period is the Yellow Turban Rebellion led by Zhang Jiao in 184. The Yellow Turban Rebellion, sometimes also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, ( was a AD 184 peasant rebellion against Emperor Ling of Han Zhang Jiao or Zhang Jue (d 184 was the leader of the Yellow Turbans during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. The year long revolt devastated northern China, as Zhang's religious sect, the Way of Peace, battled the weakened Han Empire, whose army was led by He Jin and other Imperial officers, such as Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun. He Jin (135 &ndash 189 was the elder half-brother of Empress He, consort to Emperor Ling of the late Eastern Han Dynasty in China. Huangfu Song (died 195 was a general during the late Han Dynasty, best remembered for helping put down the Yellow Turban Rebellion. The Way of Peace was primarily composed of farmers who had suffered greatly under the corrupt government system and thus easily converted by Zhang Jiao to create a "new and peaceful world. " The rebellion ended when Zhang Jiao died of illness, but the chaos the rebellion wrought, when combined with the natural disasters that had overrun China in the same period, destabilized the Han Dynasty and doomed it to fall. The rebellion also caused the central government to increase the allowance of military power of the local governments, which is one of the causes of the warring period that followed.

The overall structure of the Yellow Turban Rebellion was also religiously influenced. The Yellow Turban Rebellion, sometimes also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, ( was a AD 184 peasant rebellion against Emperor Ling of Han The leader, Zhang Jiao, was referred to as "Great Teacher" due to his very in-depth following of Taoism. Zhang Jiao or Zhang Jue (d 184 was the leader of the Yellow Turbans during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Because of the religious purpose displayed by its leader and his brothers, many peasents were very open to their purpose, as the Yellow Turban Rebellion sported a kind and peaceful rebellion, when in truth, it sported a total breakdown in governmental authority and countless deaths. The Yellow Turban Rebellion, sometimes also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, ( was a AD 184 peasant rebellion against Emperor Ling of Han

The series of events leading to the collapse of dynastic power and the rise of Cao Cao are extremely complex. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the The death of Emperor Ling in May 189 led to an unstable regency under General‐in‐chief He Jin and renewed rivalry between the factions of the eunuchs and regular civil bureaucracy. Emperor Ling of Han, trad ch 漢靈帝, sim ch 汉灵帝, py. A eunuch (ˈjuːnək is a Castrated man in particular one castrated early enough to have major hormonal consequences the term usually refers to those castrated in order to Following the assassination of He Jin, his chief ally the Colonel‐Lieutenant of Retainers Yuan Shao led a massacre of the eunuchs in the imperial palaces in Luoyang. Yuan Shao (? - 202 was a powerful warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. This event prompted the invitation of frontier general Dong Zhuo to enter Luoyang from the northwest boundary of China. Dong Zhuo (died May 22, 192) was a powerful warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. At the time China faced the powerful barbarians of Qiang tribe to the northwest, and thus Dong Zhuo controlled a large army with elite training. When he brought the army to Luoyang, he was able to easily overpower the existing armies of both sides and took control of the imperial court, ushering in a period of civil war across China.

Dong Zhuo then manipulated the succession so that the future Emperor Xian could take the throne in lieu of his elder half‐brother. Emperor Xian of Han ( Traditional 漢獻帝 Simplified 汉献帝 Pinyin Hàn Xiàn dì, Wade-Giles Han Hsien-ti; Dong Zhuo, while ambitious, genuinely wished for a more capable emperor. On his way to Luoyang, he encountered a small team of soldiers protecting the two sons of Emperor Ling fleeing the war zone. In the encounter, Dong Zhuo acted arrogantly and threatening, causing the elder half‐brother to be paralyzed with fear; the younger brother, future Emperor Xian, responded calmly with authority and commanded Dong Zhuo to protect the royal family with his army to return to the Imperial Court.

While Dong Zhuo originally wanted to re‐establish the authority of Han Empire and manage all the political conflict properly, his political capability proved to be much worse than his military leadership. His behaviour grew more and more violent and authoritarian, executing or sending into exile all that opposed him, and showed less and less respect to the Emperor. He ignored all royal etiquette and openly carried weapons into the imperial court frequently. In 190 a coalition led by Yuan Shao was formed between nearly all the provincial authorities in the eastern provinces of the empire against Dong Zhuo. The Campaign against Dong Zhuo (董卓討伐戰 in 190 was initiated by a coalition of regional officials hoping to end Chancellor Dong Zhuo 's influence The mounting pressure from repeated defeat on the southern frontline against the Sun Jian forces drove the Han Emperor and later Dong Zhuo himself west to Chang'an in May 191. Sun Jian (155 &ndash 191 was a military general and minor Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China Chang'an ( is an ancient Capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history.

Also in 191, coalition officer Sun Jian was ordered by Yuan Shu to go on and offensive against Liu Biao. Sun Jian (155 &ndash 191 was a military general and minor Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China This article is about the warlord during the Eastern Han Dynasty Liú Biǎo (? - August208 AD was the governor of the Jing province during the late Eastern Han Dynasty After going on this offensive, Sun Jian was ambushed while on a solo ride on Xian Hill (峴山). Sun Jian (155 &ndash 191 was a military general and minor Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China The ambush party was headed by Huang Zu, who was later killed by Gan Ning at Xiakou (汉口). Huang Zu (? - 208 was a high-ranked naval officer and Prefect of Jiangxia under the governor of Jingzhou, Liu Biao during the later Han Dynasty Gān Níng (175&ndash219/220? was a military general for Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of China Hankou ( Wade-Giles: Hankow is one of the three towns together with Wuchang and Hanyang, which are included in modern day Wuhan, the capital With the loss of Sun Jian, the coalition was weakened, yet not demoralized. Sun Jian (155 &ndash 191 was a military general and minor Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China They pushed on after Dong Zhuo and followed him to Luoyang. This, being the final engagement with Dong Zhuo and the coalition.

Dong Zhuo once again demonstrated his political shortcomings by forcing millions of residents of Luoyang to migrate to Chang'an. He then set fire to Luoyang, preventing occupation by his enemies and destroying the biggest city in China at that time. In addition, he ordered his army to slaughter a whole village of civilians. The soldiers beheaded civilians and carried their heads into Chang'an to show off as war trophies, pretending to have had a great victory against his enemies. A year later Dong Zhuo was killed in a coup d'etat by Wang Yun and Lü Bu. Wang Yun (137 AD &ndash 192 AD was the Minister over the Masses under Emperor Xian during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. Lü Bu (died 198 was a military general and later minor Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China.

The rise of Cao Cao

In 191, there was some talk among the coalition of appointing Liu Yu, an imperial relative, as emperor, and gradually its members began to fall out. Liu Yu (? - 193 was an official of the Later Han Period According to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, during the time of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of Most of the warlords in the coalition, with a few exceptions, sought the increase of personal military power in the time of instability instead of seriously wishing to restore the Han Dynasty's authority. The Han empire was divided between a number of regional warlords. Yuan Shao occupied the northern area of Ye and extended his power, by taking over his superior Han Fu with trickery and intimidation, north of the Yellow River against Gongsun Zan, who held the northern frontier. Ye ( was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County Henan. Han Fu (141 - 191 was a bureaucrat during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of The Yellow River or Huang He / Hwang Ho ( Hatan Gol Queen river) is the second-longest river in China (after the Yangtze River) and the Gongsun Zan (? - 199 styled Bogui (伯珪 A native of Liaoxi (遼西 he was a warlord with fierce reputation during the late Eastern Han Dynasty era of China Cao Cao, directly to Yuan's south, was engaged in a struggle against Yuan Shu and Liu Biao, who occupied respectively the Huai River basin and Middle Yangzi regions. This article is about the warlord during the Eastern Han Dynasty Liú Biǎo (? - August208 AD was the governor of the Jing province during the late Eastern Han Dynasty Further south the young warlord Sun Ce, taking over after the untimely death of Sun Jian, was establishing his rule in the Lower Yangzi, albeit as a subordinate of Yuan Shu. Sun Ce (175 &ndash 200 was a military general and Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China. Sun Jian (155 &ndash 191 was a military general and minor Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China In the west, Liu Zhang held Yizhou province while Hanzhong and the northwest were controlled by a motley collection of smaller warlords such as Ma Teng of Xiliang, the original post of Dong Zhuo. Liu Zhang (162? - 219 was a warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. Hanzhong ( is a city in Shaanxi province in central China. Population (2004 approx Ma Teng (156 - 212 was a warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China.

Dong Zhuo, confident in his success, was slain by his own adopted son, Lu Bu and his father-in-law Wang Yun. Lü Bu (died 198 was a military general and later minor Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. Lu Bu, in turn, was attacked by Dong Zhuo's supporters, Li Jue , Guo Si, Zhang Ji (Zhang Xiu's Uncle) and Fan Chou. Li Jue may refer to Li Jue (Three Kingdoms Li Jue (Kuomintang Guō Sì (146 &ndash 197 was formerly an officer under Niu Fu, who was a general serving under Dong Zhuo. Zhang Ji may refer to Zhang Ji (military officer (military officer 170-223 Zhang Ji (poet (poet 8th century Zhang Zhongjing Fan Chou (died 195 was an officer under Dong Zhuo. After the death of Dong Zhuo he joined with Guo Si, Li Jue and Zhang Ji and helped Wang Yun and his whole family were executed. Lu fled to Zhang Yang, a northern warlord, and remained with him for a time before briefly joining Yuan Shao, but it was clear that Lu Bu was far too independent to serve another.

In August 195, Emperor Xian fled the tyranny of Li Jue at Chang'an and made a year‐long hazardous journey east in search of supporters. By 196, when he was received by Cao Cao, most of the smaller contenders for power had either been absorbed by larger ones or destroyed. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the This is an extremely important move for Cao Cao with the suggestion from his primary advisor, Xun Yu, commenting that by supporting the authentic Emperor, Cao Cao would have the formal legal authority to control the other warlords and force them to comply in order to restore the Han dynasty. Xun Yu (163 - 212 styled Wenruo (文若 was a strategist and statesman who served as a key advisor to Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms era of China

Cao Cao, dubbed the "Hero Of Chaos" because of his valiant actions during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and his actions towards the unity of China, withheld a zone of control that was the precursor to the Kingdom of Wei. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the The Yellow Turban Rebellion, sometimes also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, ( was a AD 184 peasant rebellion against Emperor Ling of Han Cao Cao had raised an army in the winter of 189, and in several strategic movements and battles, he gained control of the Dui province and defeated several fractions of the Yellow Turban rebels. This earned him the aid of other local militaries controlled by Zhang Miao and Chen Gong, who joined his cause to create his first sizable army. Zhang Miao (155 - 195 was a minister of the Three Kingdoms Period who acted as prefect of Chenliu. Chen Gong (? &ndash 198 was an advisor to the warlord Lü Bu during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. He continued the effort and absorbed approximately 300,000 Yellow Turbans into his army as well as a number of clan‐based military groups particular to the eastern side of Qing province. The Yellow Turban Rebellion, sometimes also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, ( was a AD 184 peasant rebellion against Emperor Ling of Han In 196 he established an imperial court at Xuchang and developed military agricultural colonies (tuntian) to support his army. Xuchang ( is a Prefecture-level city in central Henan province, People's Republic of China. The Tuntian or Duntian system (屯田制 was a system of government-encouraged agriculture originated in the Western Han, it was also practiced by the warlord Although the system imposed a heavy tax for hired civilian farmers (40% to 60% of agricultural production), the farmers were more than pleased to be able to work with relative stability and professional military protection in a time of chaos. This was later said to be his second important policy to success.

In 194, Cao Cao went to war with Tao Qian of Xuzhou, whose officers had executed his whole family. Tao Qian (132-194 was governor of Xu province (徐州 during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. Administration The Prefecture-level city of Xuzhou administers eleven county-level divisions, including five districts, two county-level Tao Qian received the support of Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan, but even then, it seemed as if Cao Cao's superior forces would overrun Xuzhou entirely. Liu Bei (161– June 21 223) styled Xuándé (玄徳 was a general warlord and later the founding emperor of Shu Han during the Gongsun Zan (? - 199 styled Bogui (伯珪 A native of Liaoxi (遼西 he was a warlord with fierce reputation during the late Eastern Han Dynasty era of China However, Cao Cao received word that Lu Bu had seized Yan province in Cao Cao's absence, and thus, he retreated, putting a halt to hostilities with Tao Qian for the time being. Lü Bu (died 198 was a military general and later minor Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. Tao Qian died that same year, leaving his province to Liu Bei. A year later, in 195, Cao Cao managed to drive Lu Bu out of Yan. Lu Bu fled to Xuzhou and was received by Liu Bei, and an uneasy alliance began between the two.

In the south, Sun Ce, then an independent general under the service of Yuan Shu, defeated the warlords of Yangzhou, including Liu Yao, Wang Lang, and Yan Baihu. Sun Ce (175 &ndash 200 was a military general and Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China. Administration The Prefecture-level city of Yangzhou administers 7 county-level divisions. Early life Liu Yao's father Liu Lü (劉綠 died early and he was raised by Liu Lü's cousin Liu Yuan. Wang Lang (? - 228 was a politician during the end of the Han Dynasty and during the Three Kingdoms era of China. Yan Baihu was a bandit leader in the Wu territory during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. The speed with which Sun Ce accomplished his conquests led to his nickname, "Little Conqueor" (小霸王), a reference to the late Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu ( 232 BC – 202 BC was a prominent general during the fall of the Qin Dynasty. In 197, Yuan Shu, who was at odds with Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Liu Bei, felt assured of victory with his subordinate's conquests, and thus declared himself emperor of the Cheng Dynasty. The move, however, was a tactical blunder, as it drew the ire of many warlords across the land, including Yuan Shu's own subordinate Sun Ce, who had advised Yuan Shu not to make such a move. Cao Cao issued orders to Sun Ce to attack Yuan Shu. Sun Ce complied, but first convinced Cao Cao to form a coalition against Yuan Shu, of which Liu Bei and Lu Bu were members. Attacked on all sides, Yuan Shu was defeated and fled into hiding.

Afterwards, Lu Bu betrayed Liu Bei and seized Xuzhou, forming an alliance with Yuan Shu's remnant forces. Liu Bei fled to Cao Cao, who accepted him. Soon, preparations were made for an attack on Lu Bu, and the combined forces of Cao Cao and Liu Bei besieged Xia Pi.

It was clear to Lu Bu that defeat was near when Cao Cao's top strategic advisor, Guo Jia, told Cao Cao to use the river that flowed through Xia Pi against Lu Bu. Guo Jia (170 &ndash 207 styled Fengxiao (奉孝 was a strategist and advisor to the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty The river was dammed upstream, causing the water inside to flood. Lu Bu, being trapped inside with his officers, began drinking heavily and abusing the authority he had over his officers. Due to his tyranny, several officers, such as Wei Xu and Song Xian, defected to the opposing Cao Cao. Wei Xu was a military officer under the minor Warlord Lü Bu during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient Song Xian was a military officer under the minor Warlord Lü Bu during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient In the end, Lu Bu was bound and beheaded by Cao Cao. Thus, the one called "the mightiest warrior of the land" was no more.

In 200, Dong Cheng, an officer of the Imperial Court, received a secret edict from the Emperor to assassinate Cao Cao. Dong Cheng (? &ndash 200 was a government official during the late Eastern Han / Three Kingdoms era of China. He collaborated with Liu Bei on this effort, but Cao Cao soon found out about the plot and had Dong Cheng and his co‐conspirators executed, with only Liu Bei surviving and fleeing to Yuan Shao in the north.

After settling the nearby provinces, including a rebellion led by former Yellow Turbans, and internal affairs with the court, Cao Cao turned his attention north to Yuan Shao, who himself had eliminated his northern rival Gongsun Zan that same year. Yuan Shao, himself of higher nobility than Cao Cao, amassed a large army and camped along the northern bank of the Yellow river.

In 200, after winning a decisive battle against Liu Biao at Shaxian and putting down the rebellions of Xu Gong and others, Sun Ce was struck by an arrow and fatally wounded. On his deathbed, he named his younger brother, Sun Quan, as his heir. Sun Quan ( (182 - 252 son of Sun Jian, courtesy name Zhòngmóu (仲謀 formally Emperor Da of (Eastern Wu was the founder of Eastern Wu

Following months of planning, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao met in force at Guandu. The Battle of Guandu (官渡之戰 was a Battle during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history that took place at the Yellow River Overcoming Yuan's superior numbers, (actual numbers vary in different sources, but Yuan Shao having a manifestly superior number is universally accepted) Cao Cao decisively defeated him by setting fire to his supplies at Wu Chao (乌巢), and in doing so crippled the northern army. Wuchao (烏巢 located southeast of Yanjing County, Henan was famous for being the location of the stores for Yuan Shao 's army at the Battle of Guandu Liu Bei fled to Liu Biao of Jing province, and many of Yuan Shao's forces were destroyed. In 202, Cao Cao took advantage of Yuan Shao's death and the resulting division among his sons to advance north of the Yellow River. He captured Ye in 204 and occupied the provinces of Ji, Bing, Qing and You. Ye ( was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County Henan. By the end of 207, after a lightning campaign against the Wuhuan barbarians, Cao Cao had achieved undisputed dominance of the North China Plain. The Wuhuan ( were a nomadic people who inhabited northern China, in what is now the provinces of Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi, the municipality Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the The North China Plain ( is based on the deposits of the Huang He (Yellow River and is the largest Alluvial plain of eastern Asia.

Red Cliffs and its aftermath

In 208, Cao Cao marched south with his army hoping to quickly unify the empire. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the Liu Biao's son Liu Cong surrendered the province of Jing and Cao was able to capture a sizeable fleet at Jiangling. Liú Biǎo (? - August208 AD was the governor of the Jing province during the late Eastern Han Dynasty Sun Quan, the successor to Sun Ce in the Lower Yangzi, continued to resist however. Sun Quan ( (182 - 252 son of Sun Jian, courtesy name Zhòngmóu (仲謀 formally Emperor Da of (Eastern Wu was the founder of Eastern Wu Sun Ce (175 &ndash 200 was a military general and Warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China. His advisor Lu Su secured an alliance with Liu Bei, himself a recent refugee from the north, and Sun Ce's sworn brother Zhou Yu was placed in command of Sun Quan's navy, along with a veteran officer of the Sun family, Cheng Pu. Lu Su (172 - 217 styled Zijing (子敬 was an advisor for the Kingdom of Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of China. Zhou Yu (周瑜 175-210 was a famous and one of the most capable military strategists for Sun Ce and his successor Sun Quan during the Three Kingdoms era the Cheng Pu (stylename Demou 德謀) was a veteran warrior who served the Sun family for three generations in the Kingdoms of Wu during the Three Kingdoms Their combined armies of 50,000 met Cao Cao's fleet and 200,000‐strong force at Red Cliffs (Chinese: 赤壁 Chi Bi) that winter. The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, ( was a decisive battle at the End of Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the period of the Three The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, ( was a decisive battle at the End of Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the period of the Three After an initial skirmish, an attack beginning with a plan to set fire to Cao Cao's fleet was set in motion.

The two states of Shu and Wu were in alliance at Chi Bi, with Zhuge Liang in charge of summoning the wind (so the wind could feed the flames) and Pang Tong in charge of chaining the ships together. Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China Páng Tǒng (龐統 178 - 214 Courtesy name Shiyuan (士元 was an advisor to Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and during the Then, Huang Gai of Wu would set the ships on fire, which would spread due to the wind and the linking of the ships. Huang Gai was a military general for the Kingdom of Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of China. At first, Zhou Yu was skeptical of Zhuge Liang's capability to summon the wind, however Zhuge Liang assured Zhou Yu that the wind would blow on that precise day. And indeed, the wind did blow in the correct direction at the correct time. Pang Tong also succeeded in coercing Cao Cao to chain the ships together, soon retreating thereafter. With the stage set, Huang Gai led a fake defection, which turned out to be an ambush party consisting of a fire squad. The fires started on one ship, and then spread to Cao Cao's entire armada. With this, Cao Cao was completely immobilized and soundly defeated. Thus, setting the stage for relations between Shu and Wu.

After his return to the north, Cao Cao contented himself with absorbing the northwestern regions in 211 and consolidating his power. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the He progressively increased his titles and power, eventually becoming the Prince of Wei in 217, a title bestowed upon him by the puppet Han emperor that he controlled. Liu Bei, having defeated the weak Jing warlords Han Xuan, Jin Xuan, Zhao Fan, and Liu Du, entered Yi province and later in 214 displaced Liu Zhang as ruler, leaving his commander Guan Yu in charge of Jing province. Liu Bei (161– June 21 223) styled Xuándé (玄徳 was a general warlord and later the founding emperor of Shu Han during the Han Xuan ( 151 - 210) was governor of Changsha during the Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in China. Jin Xuan (? - 209 the protector of Wu Ling. At one time when Zhang Fei attacked Wu Ling Jin Xuan ignored the suggestion of Gong Zhi to surrender Zhao Fan was a minister the Kingdom of Wei during the Three Kingdoms Period of China Liu Du was a minister of the Three Kingdoms Period that was the prefect of Ling Ling. Guan Yu ( Chinese: 關羽 Guān Yǔ was a general under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Sun Quan, who had in the intervening years being engaged with defenses against Cao Cao in the southeast at Hefei, now turned his attention to Jing province and the Middle Yangzi. Sun Quan ( (182 - 252 son of Sun Jian, courtesy name Zhòngmóu (仲謀 formally Emperor Da of (Eastern Wu was the founder of Eastern Wu Hefei ( literally "Junction of the (South Fei Rivers " former names Ho-fei Luzhou Luchow is a Prefecture-level city and the provincial capital of Tensions between the allies were increasingly visible. In 219, after Liu Bei successfully seized Hanzhong from Cao Cao and as Guan Yu was engaged in the siege of Fan, Sun Quan's commander‐in‐chief Lu Meng secretly seized Jing province, and his forces captured and slew Guan Yu. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the Guan Yu ( Chinese: 關羽 Guān Yǔ was a general under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of The Battle of Fancheng (樊城之戰 was fought between the forces of Liu Bei and Cao Cao in the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period in ancient Lü Meng (178 - 219 was a renowned officer under Sun Quan during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Three emperors

In the first month of 220, Cao Cao died and in the tenth month his son Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to abdicate, thus ending the Han Dynasty. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the Cao Pi (曹丕 187 - June 29, 226) formally Emperor Wen of (Cao Wei (曹魏文帝 Courtesy name Zihuan (子桓 was He named his state Wei and made himself emperor at Luoyang. Cao Wei ( was one of the empires that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period In 221, Liu Bei named himself Emperor of Han, in a bid to restore the fallen Han dynasty. (His state is known to history as "Shu" or "Shu‐Han". ) In the same year, Wei bestowed on Sun Quan the title of King of Wu. Sun Quan ( (182 - 252 son of Sun Jian, courtesy name Zhòngmóu (仲謀 formally Emperor Da of (Eastern Wu was the founder of Eastern Wu A year later, Shu‐Han troops declared war on Wu and met the Wu armies at the Battle of Yiling. At Yiling, Liu Bei was disastrously defeated by Sun Quan's commander Lu Xun and forced to retreat back to Shu, where he died soon afterward. Lu Xun (183 &ndash 245 was an officer of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of China. After the death of Liu Bei, Shu and Wu resumed friendly relations at the expense of Wei, thus stabilizing the tripartite configuration. In 222, Sun Quan renounced his recognition of Cao Pi's regime and, in 229, he declared himself emperor at Wuchang. Cao Pi (曹丕 187 - June 29, 226) formally Emperor Wen of (Cao Wei (曹魏文帝 Courtesy name Zihuan (子桓 was

Dominion of the north completely belonged to Wei, whilst Shu occupied the southwest and Wu the central south and east. The external borders of the states were generally limited to the extent of Chinese civilization. For example, the political control of Shu on its southern frontier was limited by the Tai tribes of modern Yunnan and Burma, known collectively as the Southern Barbarians (南蠻). "Thai peoples" redirects here For the subgroup of the Tai see Thai people The Tai or Tai-Kadai ethnicity refers collectively to the Ethnic Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Nanman ( 南蠻, pinyin Nánmán literally "southern barbarians" were Aboriginal tribes who lived in southwestern China.

Population

The population could be derived from the official record of Chen Shou's Sanguo Zhi. The Records of Three Kingdoms ( is the official and authoritative historical text on the period of Three Kingdoms covering from 189 to 280, In terms of manpower, the Wei was by far the largest, retaining more than 660,000 households and 4,400,000 people within its borders. Shu had a population of 940,000, and Wu 2,300,000. Thus, Wei had more than 58% of the population and around 40% of territory. With these resources, it is estimated that it could raise an army of 440,000 whilst Shu and Wu could manage 100,000 and 230,000. The Wu‐Shu alliance against the Wei proved itself to be a militarily stable configuration; the basic borders of the Three Kingdoms remained almost unchanged for more than forty years.

Trade and transport

In economic terms the division of the Three Kingdoms reflected a reality that long endured. Even in the Northern Song, seven hundred years after the Three Kingdoms, it was possible to think of China as being composed of three great regional markets. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (The status of the northwest was slightly ambivalent, as it had links with the northern region and Sichuan). ( Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in western China with its capital in Chengdu. These geographical divisions are underscored by the fact that the main communication routes between the three main regions were all man‐made: the Grand Canal linking north and south, the hauling‐way through the Three Gorges of the Yangzi linking southern China with Sichuan and the gallery roads joining Sichuan with the northwest. The Grand Canal of China ( also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal ( is the longest ancient Canal or artificial River in the world The Three Gorges ( Gorgesogg|listen now}} region is a scenic area along the Yangtze River in the People's Republic of China with a total The gallery roads (棧道 were roads through remote mountain areas of China. The break into three separate entities was quite natural and even anticipated by such political foresight as that of Zhuge Liang (see Longzhong Plan). Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China The Longzhong Plan (隆中對 is the name given to a strategic plan given by the famed third century Chinese tactician and administrator Zhuge Liang.

Consolidation

See also: Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign

In 223 Liu Shan rose to the throne of Shu following his father's defeat and death. Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign ( refers to the military campaign led by the Zhuge Liang of the Shu Han against the southern rebels in 225, during the Liu Shan, (commonly mispronounced as Liu Chan) (207 &ndash 271 was the second and last emperor of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms era The defeat of Liu Bei at Yiling ended the period of hostility between Wu and Shu and both used the opportunity to concentrate on internal problems and the external enemy of Wei. For Sun Quan, the victory terminated his fears of Shu expansion into Jing province and he turned to the aborigines of the southeast, whom the Chinese collectively called the "Shanyue" peoples (see Yue). A collection of successes against the rebellious tribesmen culminated in the victory of 234. In that year Zhuge Ke ended a three year siege of Danyang with the surrender of 100,000 Shanyue. Zhuge Ke (203 – 253 courtesy name Yuanxun (元遜 was an officer for Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of China. Of these, 40,000 were drafted as auxiliaries into the Wu army. Meanwhile Shu was also experiencing troubles with the indigenous tribes of their south. The South‐western Nanman peoples rose in revolt against Han authority, captured and looted the city of Yizhou. Nanman ( 南蠻, pinyin Nánmán literally "southern barbarians" were Aboriginal tribes who lived in southwestern China. Zhuge Liang, recognising the importance of stability in the south, ordered the advance of the Shu armies in three columns against the Nanman. He fought a number of engagements against the chieftain Meng Huo, at the end of which Meng submitted. Meng Huo (孟獲 was aristocrat in the Nanzhong region south of Shu Han, during the Three Kingdoms era of China. A tribesman was allowed to reside at the Shu capital Chengdu as an official and the Nanman formed their own battalions within the Shu army. ( located in southwest People's Republic of China, is the capital of Sichuan province and a Sub-provincial city.

Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions

Main article: Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions

At the end of Zhuge Liang's southern campaign, the Wu‐Shu alliance came to fruition and Shu was free to move against the north. Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions (諸葛亮北伐 were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu against the northern state of Wei from A Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China In 227 Zhuge Liang transferred his main Shu armies to Hanzhong, and opened up the battle for the northwest with Wei. Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China Hanzhong ( is a city in Shaanxi province in central China. Population (2004 approx The next year, he ordered the general Zhao Yun to attack from Ji Gorge as a diversion while Zhuge himself led the main force to Qishan. For the Song Emperor see Emperor Lizong of Song. Zhao Yun (? - 22 The vanguard Ma Su, however, suffered a tactical defeat at Jieting and the Shu army was forced to withdraw. Ma Su (190 &ndash 228 was a military strategist for the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms era of China. The Battle of Jieting (街亭之戰 was a battle fought in 228 during the first northern expedition led by Zhuge Liang. In the next six years Zhuge Liang attempted several more offensives, but supply problems limited the capacity for success. Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China In 234 he led his last great northern offensive, reaching the Battle of Wuzhang Plains south of the Wei River. The Battle of Wuzhang Plains (五丈原之戰 is a famous standoff between the kingdoms of Wei and Shu in 234 A The Wei River ( Simplified Chinese:渭河 Pinyin: Wei He Wade-Giles: Wei Ho is a River in west-central China and is the largest Due to the death of Zhuge Liang (234 AD), however, the Shu army was forced once again to withdraw, but were pursued by Wei. The Shu forces began to withdraw, though Sima Yi sensed Zhuge's passing and ordered an attack. Shu struck back almost immediately, causing Sima Yi to believe it was a trick, thus allowing Shu to withdraw successfully.

Wu and development of the south

In the times of Zhuge Liang's great northern offensives, the state of Wu had always been on the defensive against invasions from the north. Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China The area around Hefei was under constant pressure from Wei after the Battle of Red Cliffs and the scene of many bitter battles. Hefei ( literally "Junction of the (South Fei Rivers " former names Ho-fei Luzhou Luchow is a Prefecture-level city and the provincial capital of Warfare had grown so intense that many of the residents chose to migrate and resettle south of the Yangzi. After Zhuge Liang's death, attacks on the Huainan region intensified but nonetheless, Wei could not break through the line of the river defenses erected by Wu, which included the Ruxu fortress. Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China Administration The Prefecture-level city of Huainan administers six county-level divisions, including five districts and one county

Sun Quan's long reign is regarded as a time of plenty for his southern state. Sun Quan ( (182 - 252 son of Sun Jian, courtesy name Zhòngmóu (仲謀 formally Emperor Da of (Eastern Wu was the founder of Eastern Wu Migrations from the north and the settlement of the Shanyue increased manpower for agriculture, especially along the lower reaches of the Yangzi and in Kuaiji commandery. River transport blossomed, with the construction of the Zhedong and Jiangnan canals. Trade with Shu flourished, with a huge influx of Shu cotton and the development of celadon and metal industries. Celadon is a term for Ceramics denoting both a type glaze, and a ware of a specific color also called celadon. Ocean transport was improved to such an extent that sea journeys were made to Manchuria and the island of Taiwan. Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. In the south, Wu merchants reached Linyi (southern Vietnam) and Fu'nan (Cambodia). Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East As the economy prospered, so too did the arts and culture. In the Yangzi delta, the first Buddhist influences reached the south from Luoyang. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices (See Buddhism in China)

Decline and end of the Three Kingdoms

From the late 230s tensions began to become visible between the imperial Cao clan and the Sima clan. Chinese Buddhism ( Pinyin fójiào refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China proper since ancient times Following the death of Cao Zhen, factionalism was evident between Cao Shuang and the Grand Commander Sima Yi. Cao Zhen (曹真，185 &ndash 231 was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao and the succeeding rulers of Cao Wei during the late Eastern Cao Shuang (died 249 was the son of Cao Zhen, a famous commander of the Kingdom of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period Sima Yi (179 - 251 was a strategist general and politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China. In deliberations, Cao Shuang placed his own supporters in important posts and excluded Sima, whom he regarded as a threat. The power of the Sima clan, one of the great landowning families of the Han, was bolstered by Sima Yi's military victories. Additionally, Sima Yi was an extremely capable strategist and politician. Sima Yi (179 - 251 was a strategist general and politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China. In 238 he crushed the rebellion of Gongsun Yuan and brought the Liaodong region directly under central control. Gongsun Yuan (?-238 was a general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period Ultimately, he outmaneuvered Cao Shuang in power play. Cao Shuang (died 249 was the son of Cao Zhen, a famous commander of the Kingdom of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period Taking advantage of an excursion by the imperial clansmen to the Gaoping tombs, Sima undertook a putsch in Luoyang, forcing Cao Shuang's faction from authority. Many protested to the overwhelming power of the Sima family; notable of which were the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove ( were a group of Chinese Taoist Qingtan scholars writers and musicians who came together in the bloody 3rd One of the sages, Xi Kang, was executed as part of the purges after Cao Shuang's downfall.

Fall of Shu

Main article: Conquest of Shu by Wei

The decreasing strength of the Cao clan was mirrored by the decline of Shu. The conquest of Shu Han by Cao Wei (魏滅蜀之戰 was a military campaign launched by Cao Wei of the Three Kingdoms against the rival state Shu Han After Zhuge Liang's death, his position as Lieutenant Chancellor fell to Jiang Wan, Fei Yi and Dong Yun, in that order. Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China The Chancellor ( variously translated as Prime Minister, Premier or Chief Councillor, was a generic name given to the highest-ranking official in the Jiang Wan (? &ndash 245 Courtesy name Gongyan (公琰 was an official of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of China. Fei Yi (* after 200 † 253 Courtesy name Wenwei (文偉 was an official of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of China Dong Yun (died 246 was a minister for Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of China. But after 258, Shu politics became increasingly controlled by the eunuch faction and corruption rose. Despite the energetic efforts of Jiang Wei, Zhuge's protege, Shu was unable to secure any decisive achievement. Jiang Wei (202 - 264 was a military general and later regent of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of China. In 263, Wei launched a three‐pronged attack and the Shu army was forced into general retreat from Hanzhong. Jiang Wei hurriedly held a position at Jian'ge but he was outflanked by the Wei commander Deng Ai, who force‐marched his army from Yinping through territory formerly considered impassable. Deng Ai (d264 was a talented general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China. Due to internal strife and bad leadership on Liu Bei's only son Liu Shan, Shu was indefinitely weak and unable to withstand the Wei invasion. Liu Shan, (commonly mispronounced as Liu Chan) (207 &ndash 271 was the second and last emperor of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms era By the winter of the year, the capital Chengdu had fallen due to the strategic invasion of Wei by Deng Ai, invading Chengdu personally; the emperor Liu Shan had surrendered. Liu Shan, (commonly mispronounced as Liu Chan) (207 &ndash 271 was the second and last emperor of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms era With his hands tied behind his back, the defeated ruler of Shu Han welcomed the Wei forces into Chengdu. The state of Shu had come to an end after forty‐three years.

Fall of Wei

Cao Huan succeeded to the throne in 260 after Cao Mao was killed by Sima Zhao. Cao Huan, ch 曹奐, py. cáo hùan, Wg. Ts'ao-Huan (246-303 was a grandson of Cao Cao and last emperor Cao Mao (242-260 courtesy name Yanshi (彥士 wg yen-shih was an emperor of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. Sima Zhao (211-265 courtesy name Zishang (子尚 was the son of chief military strategist Sima Yi of Cao Wei, during the Three Kingdoms Soon after, Sima Zhao died and his title as Lord of Jin was inherited by his son Sima Yan. Life before establishment of the Jìn Dynasty Sīmǎ Yán was born to Sima Zhao and his wife Wang Yuanji, daughter of the Confucian scholar Wáng Sima Yan immediately began plotting to become Emperor but faced stiff opposition. However, due to advice from his advisors, Cao Huan decided the best course of action would be to abdicate, unlike his predecessor Cao Mao. Sima Yan seized the throne in 264 after forcing Cao Huan's abdication, effectively overthrowing the Wei Dynasty and establishing the successor Jin Dynasty. The Jìn Dynasty ( 265 – 420) one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties This situation was similar to the deposal of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty by Cao Pi, the founder of the Wei Dynasty. Emperor Xian of Han ( Traditional 漢獻帝 Simplified 汉献帝 Pinyin Hàn Xiàn dì, Wade-Giles Han Hsien-ti; Cao Pi (曹丕 187 - June 29, 226) formally Emperor Wen of (Cao Wei (曹魏文帝 Courtesy name Zihuan (子桓 was

Fall of Wu

Main article: Conquest of Wu by Jin

Following Sun Quan's death and the ascension of the young Sun Liang as emperor in 252, the kingdom of Wu went into a period of steady decline. The conquest of Eastern Wu by Jin (晋灭吴之战 was a campaign fought in the end of the Three Kingdoms period in southeastern China, Sun Liang (243–260 was an Emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. Successful Wei oppression of rebellions in the Huainan region by Sima Zhao and Sima Shi reduced any opportunity of Wu influence. Administration The Prefecture-level city of Huainan administers six county-level divisions, including five districts and one county Sima Zhao (211-265 courtesy name Zishang (子尚 was the son of chief military strategist Sima Yi of Cao Wei, during the Three Kingdoms Sima Shi (208-255 courtesy name Ziyuan (子元 was an official of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China. The fall of Shu signalled a change in Wei politics. Sima Yan (son of Sima Yi), after accepting the surrender of Liu Shan, overthrew the Wei emperor and proclaimed his own dynasty of Jin in 264, ending forty‐six years of Cao dominion in the north. Life before establishment of the Jìn Dynasty Sīmǎ Yán was born to Sima Zhao and his wife Wang Yuanji, daughter of the Confucian scholar Wáng After Jin's rise, Emperor Sun Xiu of Wu died, and his ministers left the throne to Sun Hao. Sun Xiu (235&ndash September 3, 264) Courtesy name Zilie (子烈 formally Emperor Jing of (Eastern Wu, was the third emperor Sun Hao (孫皓 (242-284 Courtesy name Yuanzong (元宗 originally named Sun Pengzu (孫彭祖 with the Courtesy name Yuanzong (元宗 Sun Hao was a promising young man, but upon ascension he became a tyrant, killing or exiling all who dared oppose him in the court. In 269 Yang Hu, Jin commander in the south, started preparing for the invasion of Wu by ordering the construction of a fleet and training of marines in Sichuan under Wang Jun. Four years later, Lu Kang, the last great general of Wu, died, leaving no competent successor. Lu Kang (226 &ndash 274 was an advisor and general for Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of China. The planned Jin offensive finally came in the winter of 279. Sima Yan launched five simultaneous offensives along the Yangzi River from Jianye to Jiangling whilst the Sichuan fleet sailed downriver to Jing province. ( Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in western China with its capital in Chengdu. Under the strain of such an enormous attack, the Wu forces collapsed and Jianye fell in the third month of 280. Emperor Sun Hao surrendered and was given a fiefdom to live out his days on. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms era, and the beginning of a break in the upcoming 300 years of chaos.

The Three Kingdoms in popular culture

Numerous people and affairs have become legends afterwards. A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to The most completed and influential one among the stories is the historical fiction Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in Ming dynasty. Historical fiction is a sub-genre of Fiction that often portrays alternate accounts or dramatization of historical figures or events Romance of the Three Kingdoms ( written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese Historical novel based upon events in Luo Guanzhong ( c 1330?-1400? born Luo Ben (罗本 was a Chinese author attributed with writing Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义 The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led Even today, the fictions about Three Kingdoms, both old and new ones, are still playing a significant part in Chinese popular culture. Popular culture (or pop culture) is the Culture — patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance — The Three Kingdoms also appeared as a TV show in Chinese as well as in the popular videogame series Dynasty Warriors. is a series of tactical action Video games created by Koei. The award-winning series Games Original game

See also

• Romance of the Three Kingdoms
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms (TV series)
• Records of Three Kingdoms
• Personages of the Three Kingdoms
• Timeline of the Three Kingdoms period
• Military history of the Three Kingdoms
• Battle of Hulao Pass
• Dynasty Warriors
• End of Han Dynasty
• List of tributaries of Imperial China
• Rafe de Crespigny
• Period of Disunity
• Six Dynasties

References

External links

• Online Three Kingdoms publications of Dr Rafe de Crespigny, Australian National University
• In‐depth discussion and debates of events in the Three Kingdoms period, as well as insightful analysis that draws on a wide range of historical and factual resources
• Kongming's Archives: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Preceded by Han Dynasty

Dynasties in Chinese history 220–280

Succeeded by Jin Dynasty

Chen Shou (233–297 born in Nanchong, Sichuan, was the author of the Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the Three The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The following is a Chronology of the dynasties in Chinese history. The Jìn Dynasty ( 265 – 420) one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties

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