Empress Cao Jie

Historical Record

Regarding Empress Cao Jie (styled Hanfeng), there is currently no clear record in the histories. In the standard histories, the eunuch named Cao Jie (styled Hanfeng) was one of the Ten Attendants at the end of the Eastern Han; but the Empress Cao Jie referred to here—daughter of Cao Cao and empress of Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie—has no detailed independent biography in the histories, nor any clear record of her life and deeds. Therefore, her specific words, conduct, and personality in history are not clearly recorded.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the image of Empress Cao Jie (styled Hanfeng) is shaped mainly through her interactions with Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, and her elder brother Cao Pi. She first appears in Romance of the Three Kingdoms not as a major character but with an indirect mention. For example, in the second year of Jianning (169), during the reign of Emperor Xian of Han, disasters and portents arose frequently within and outside the court; the Court Gentleman for Consultation Cai Yong submitted a memorial bluntly addressing the meddling of women and eunuchs in government, while the eunuch Cao Jie (the same name as the subject of this biography, but not the same person) spied from behind and used this to frame Cai Yong. ^c:5633 The Cao Jie here is one of the Ten Attendants, not the same person as the Empress Cao Jie of this biography, but his appearance provides an annotation on the political background of the time.

As empress of Emperor Xian of Han, Empress Cao Jie (styled Hanfeng) is portrayed in the novel as fierce, loyal, and righteous in character. In Chapter 80 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Cao Pi usurped the Han and the officials forced Emperor Xian to abdicate, Empress Cao showed great anger and defiance. Facing Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, and other Cao Wei generals who entered the palace bearing swords, she fearlessly cursed them as "rebellious traitors," accusing them of seeking wealth and rank and jointly plotting treason. ^c:2342 She stressed that her own father, Cao Cao, whose merits covered the realm and whose might shook the world, still did not dare to usurp the sacred vessel, yet Cao Pi, not long after succeeding, was already scheming to usurp the Han, and would surely meet Heaven's punishment. These words display not only her loyalty to the Han house but also her pride and backbone as Cao Cao's daughter. Having spoken, she returned weeping to the palace, and all the attendants around her sobbed and shed tears, showing how her words and conduct moved those around her. ^c:2342 Through this scene, the novel shapes the image of an empress who would rather die than yield and who defended the dignity of the Han house, forming a sharp contrast with the blank that the histories leave of her, and endowing her with rich literary color.

Key Relationships

* The Ten Attendants: In Chapter 1 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the eunuch Cao Jie (the same name as the subject of this biography, but not the same person) is mentioned as one of the "Ten Attendants" who colluded in evil, causing the government to deteriorate day by day. ^c:5633 This provides background to the political environment of the late Eastern Han in which Empress Cao Jie (styled Hanfeng) lived, although she herself was not a member of the Ten Attendants.
* Cao Pi: The elder brother of Empress Cao Jie (styled Hanfeng), and the Emperor Wen of Wei who ultimately usurped the Han. In the novel, Empress Cao showed great indignation and condemnation of Cao Pi's usurpation, regarding his act as a "deed of rebellion and treason." ^c:2342 This opposition between brother and sister highlights Empress Cao's stance of loyalty to the Han house.
* Liu Xie: Emperor Xian of Han, the husband of Empress Cao Jie (styled Hanfeng). When Cao Pi usurped the Han, Liu Xie showed fear and helplessness, while Empress Cao stepped forward to defend the dignity of the Han house, displaying the different reactions of husband and wife in adversity and highlighting Empress Cao's fierce character. ^c:2342

Signature Scenes

The most signature scene of Empress Cao Jie (styled Hanfeng) is undoubtedly the moment when, at the time of Cao Pi's usurpation of the Han, she cursed the rebellious traitors and defended the dignity of the Han house. When the officials, at Cao Pi's instigation, forced Emperor Xian of Han to abdicate, the emperor, fearful, did not dare leave the hall. When Empress Cao learned of it, she was filled with rage at her brother Cao Pi's usurpation. Facing Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, and other generals who entered the palace bearing swords, she fearlessly and loudly rebuked them as "rebellious traitors," accusing them of jointly plotting treason for the sake of wealth and rank. ^c:2342 Taking her father Cao Cao's achievements as an example, she pointed out that even Cao Cao did not dare to usurp the Han, yet Cao Pi harbored such intent not long after succeeding, and would surely meet Heaven's punishment. These impassioned words fully display her fierce, loyal, and righteous character. Having spoken, she returned weeping to the palace, and all the attendants around her sobbed and shed tears; this scene profoundly depicts her steadfast refusal to yield in a hopeless situation, becoming her most representative image in Romance of the Three Kingdoms ^c:2342 (novel only).