“CAO PI”
(first emperor of ‘three kingdoms era’?)
(reigned from 220 – 226)
“SIMA YI”
(general of the ‘cao wei’ state)
(179 – 251)
(“Cao Wei” (220–265) was one of the three major states that competed for supremacy over China in the Three Kingdoms period (220–280))
(with its capital at Luoyang, the state was established by ‘Cao Pi’ in 220, based upon the foundations laid by his father, Cao Cao, towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty)
(the name “Wei” first became associated with Cao Cao when he was named the Duke of Wei by the Eastern Han government in 213, and became the name of the state when Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor in 220)
(historians often add the prefix “Cao” to distinguish it from other Chinese states known as “Wei”, such as Wei of the Warring States period and Northern Wei of the Southern and Northern Dynasties)
(the authority of the ruling Cao family gradually weakened after the death of the second Wei emperor, Cao Rui, and eventually fell into the hands of Sima Yi, a Wei regent, and his family, in 249)
(Cao Rui’s successors remained as puppet rulers under the control of the Simas until Sima Yi’s grandson, Sima Yan, forced the last Wei ruler, Cao Huan, to abdicate the throne and established the ‘Jin’ dynasty)