The event
Founding of the Three Kingdoms
三国鼎立
Cao Cao died at Luoyang in 220 before the Han abdication; only afterwards did his son Cao Pi receive the abdication of Emperor Xian and found the Wei dynasty. Sun Quan then temporarily accepted a subordinate title while preserving his own political base, and between 220 and 229 he and Cao Pi used titles and envoys strategically while their states remained rivals. In 221, after Cao Pi replaced the Han, Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor at Chengdu, claiming to continue the Han line, and Zhuge Liang was appointed Chancellor of Shu Han. In 229 Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor at Wuchang, formally establishing Eastern Wu and formalizing the third imperial court; he later moved the capital to Jianye. Because the three courts were proclaimed in 220, 221, and 229, there is no single founding date for the Three Kingdoms.
The people
Who took part
Sources
Historical sources
- Historical record三国志 · 魏书一·武帝纪
Cao Cao died at Luoyang in 220. His son Cao Pi later received the imperial abdication and founded Wei; that came after Cao Cao’s death.
- Historical record三国志 · 魏书一·武帝纪
Cao Cao died before the Han abdication; only later did Cao Pi replace the Han and establish Wei.
- Chronicle资治通鉴 · 卷六十五·建安十三年
Cao Pi received the abdication of Emperor Xian and founded the Wei dynasty.
- Historical record三国志 · 吴书二·吴主传
After Cao Pi founded Wei, Sun Quan temporarily accepted a subordinate title while preserving his own political base.
- Historical record三国志 · 吴书二·吴主传
Sun Quan and Cao Pi used titles and envoys strategically while their states remained rivals.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书二·先主传
After Cao Pi replaced the Han, Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor at Chengdu, claiming to continue the Han line.
- Chronicle资治通鉴 · 卷六十五·建安十三年
Liu Bei proclaimed the Shu Han empire at Chengdu, claiming the Han succession.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书五·诸葛亮传
When Liu Bei became emperor, Zhuge Liang was appointed Chancellor of Shu Han.
- Historical record三国志 · 吴书二·吴主传
Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor at Wuchang in 229, formally establishing Eastern Wu.
- Chronicle资治通鉴 · 卷六十五·建安十三年
Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor at Wuchang, formalizing the third imperial court.
- Historical record三国志 · 吴书二·吴主传
Sun Quan moved the capital to Jianye, strengthening the political center in the lower Yangtze region.