Cao Gun

Historical Record

Cao Gun, Prince Gong of Zhongshan, was a son of Cao Cao. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingxiang.^[1] Cao Gun was clever and fond of learning from childhood, able to compose writings at little more than ten years of age. He was so absorbed in reading that the literary attendants at his side often feared he would harm his health by overexertion and repeatedly urged him to stop, but Cao Gun took endless delight in it and could not give it up.^[1]

In the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), Cao Gun was first transferred to Marquis of Dongxiang, and in the same year transferred again to Marquis of Zan. In the second year of Huangchu (221), he was advanced to the rank of duke. When his subordinate officials came to congratulate him, Cao Gun modestly said: "I grew up in the depths of the palace and do not know the hardships of farming; I am prone to the faults of arrogance and extravagance. Since you gentlemen congratulate me on my good fortune, you should all the more assist me in remedying my shortcomings." Whenever his brothers amused themselves in play, only Cao Gun devoted himself to studying the classics. The literary supervisors privately discussed: "We have received an edict to observe the duke's words and conduct; faults must be reported, and good deeds must also be reported—we may not conceal his virtues." So they jointly submitted a memorial praising Cao Gun's character. When Cao Gun learned of it, he was greatly alarmed and reproached the literary officials, saying: "Cultivating oneself and keeping to one's place is no more than what an ordinary person does, yet you have reported it to the court—this only adds to my burden. Moreover, if there truly are good deeds, why fear they will not be known, and why be so impatient? This is not truly helping me." His vigilance and prudence can be seen from this.^[1]

In the third year of Huangchu (222), Cao Gun was enfeoffed as Prince of Beihai. That same year, a yellow dragon appeared in the Zhang River west of Ye, and Cao Gun submitted a memorial of praise. Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, granted him ten catties of gold and praised him in an edict: "In olden days Tang Shu presented grain and the Prince of Dongping presented an ode—these were praise by kinsmen of one's own flesh and blood, to honor noble kin. The king is devoted to studying the classics, savoring the truth of the Way, his elegance brilliant; I greatly commend it. The king should restrain himself and be careful in virtue, to preserve a fine reputation." In the fourth year of Huangchu (223), Cao Gun was transferred to Prince of Zan. In the seventh year of Huangchu (226), he was transferred in fief to Puyang.^[1]

In the second year of Taihe (228), Cao Gun went to his fief. He valued frugality and taught his consorts and concubines spinning and sewing and the management of household affairs.^[1] In the winter of the fifth year of Taihe (231), Cao Gun came to court. In the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was transferred to Prince of Zhongshan.^[1]

In the first year of Qinglong (233), when Cao Gun came to court, he inadvertently violated a prohibition of the capital. The responsible officials memorialized to impeach him; Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, mindful of kinship, wished to deal with it leniently, but the officials insisted on handling it according to law. In the end, an edict reduced Cao Gun's fief by two counties and seven hundred and fifty households. Emperor Ming admonished Cao Gun in a sealed letter: "The law is what all under Heaven uphold in common and may not be abandoned. Reducing the king's counties and households is in the hope that you will restrain yourself and return to propriety, correcting in the evening the fault of the morning. The king must take warning and not offend again." Cao Gun was therefore fearful and grew even stricter in admonishing his officials. Emperor Ming commended his repentant intent, and in the second year of Qinglong (234) restored the counties that had been reduced.^[2]

In the autumn of the third year of Qinglong (235), Cao Gun fell gravely ill. Emperor Ming sent an imperial physician to examine him, and palace officials and Tiger Guards came in a continuous stream bearing handwritten edicts and rare delicacies, and the Grand Consort and Cao Lin, Prince of Pei, were sent to visit him. In his grave illness, Cao Gun instructed his officials: "I am of meager virtue, yet have unworthily received favor, and my appointed time is drawing near. I have always valued frugality, and the sacred court has also established edicts on funerals and burials as a model for all under Heaven. On the day I breathe my last, from the encoffining to the burial, you must follow the edict. In olden days the Wei grandee Qu Yuan was buried at Puyang; whenever I gaze on his tomb, I often think of his lingering example, and wish to entrust myself to that worthy spirit, so that, to shelter hair and teeth, you must go there in building my tomb. By ritual, a man does not die in the hands of women. Quickly and in time complete the eastern hall." When the eastern hall was completed, it was named the "Hall of Fulfilled Aspiration," and Cao Gun, borne in his carriage, moved into it despite his illness. He further admonished his heir: "You are young and have not yet heard the principles of righteousness, becoming a ruler of men early, knowing only pleasure and not hardship; not knowing hardship, you will surely err through arrogance and extravagance. In treating the great ministers, you must do so with propriety. Even those who are not great ministers, if they are your elders, you should bow to in return. Serve your elder brothers with respect and cherish your younger brothers with kindness; if a brother behaves ill, remonstrate with him to his face. If he does not heed, then weep and exhort him; if exhortation does not mend him, then inform his mother. If he still does not mend, then memorialize the court and resign your fief. Rather than keep favor and incur disaster, better to be poor and humble and preserve oneself. This refers to great evils; as for minor faults, they should be covered over. Ah, my little one, you must carefully cultivate yourself, be loyal and faithful to the sacred court, and serve the Grand Consort with filial reverence. Within the women's quarters, heed the Grand Consort's teaching; outside the gate, receive the instruction of the Prince of Pei. Do not slacken your resolve, so as to comfort my spirit in Heaven." That same year, Cao Gun died. Emperor Ming ordered Cao Lin, Prince of Pei, to remain on guard until the funeral was concluded, and sent the Grand Herald with the staff of authority to oversee the funeral, and the Director of the Imperial Clan to offer condolences and sacrifices; the gifts bestowed were very generous. Throughout his life Cao Gun composed more than twenty thousand words of writings; his talent did not match that of the Prince of Chen, Cao Zhi, but his tastes were close to his. His son Cao Fu succeeded him. In the Jingchu, Zhengyuan, and Jingyuan eras his fief was repeatedly increased, totaling, with what came before, three thousand four hundred households.^[2]

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives no independent literary characterization of Cao Gun; as a son of Cao Cao, he has almost no appearance or specific story in the novel. The vivid personality recorded in the histories—that he "loved learning from a young age and could compose at little more than ten"^[1], "valued frugality and taught his consorts and concubines spinning, weaving, and the management of household affairs"^[1], and "was vigilant and self-restrained"^[1]—as well as his affectionate interactions with Emperor Ming Cao Rui, such as being punished for violating a prohibition and then having his fief restored^[2], and his earnest deathbed admonitions to his heir^[2], none of these rich historical details are reflected in the novel. Thus it can be said that Romance of the Three Kingdoms' depiction of Cao Gun is absent; he exists merely as a member of the Cao imperial clan, without specific image or deeds. The novel devotes its ink mainly to the military struggles and political intrigues surrounding the founding of the Cao Wei regime, and relatively little to the daily lives and personal virtues of clan members, so Cao Gun's life and deeds were completely overlooked.

Key Relationships

* Lady Du (kin_of): Cao Gun's mother, a concubine of Cao Cao. The histories do not directly mention Lady Du's specific interactions with Cao Gun, but on his deathbed, when Cao Gun admonished his heir that if a brother behaves ill and does not mend after exhortation, he should "then inform his mother"^[2], this indirectly reflects Lady Du's standing in the family and her responsibility as a mother to instruct.
* Cao Rui (kin_of): Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Gun's nephew. Cao Rui showed deep affection toward Cao Gun. When Cao Gun violated a prohibition of the capital, Cao Rui at first "out of the kindness of kinship, set aside the officials' proposal"^[2], and although he finally reduced Cao Gun's fief according to law, after Cao Gun grew fearful and repentant he "commended his intent, and in the second year restored the reduced counties"^[2]. When Cao Gun was gravely ill, Cao Rui further "issued an edict sending an imperial physician to examine his illness; palace officials and Tiger Guards came in a continuous stream bearing handwritten edicts and bestowing rare delicacies, and also sent the Grand Consort and Cao Lin, Prince of Pei, to visit him"^[2], and sent Cao Lin, Prince of Pei, to remain on guard until the funeral concluded, showing his attentive care for his uncle.
* The Prince of Chen (Cao Zhi) ("fond of matching the Prince of Chen"): Cao Gun's elder brother, renowned for literary talent. The histories record that Cao Gun's "talent did not match that of the Prince of Chen, yet he was fond of matching him"^[2], showing that Cao Gun's literary tastes were close to Cao Zhi's, though his talent fell slightly short. This reflects the Cao family's emphasis on and transmission of literature and the arts.
* Cao Lin, Prince of Pei (kin_of): Cao Gun's nephew, a brother of Emperor Ming Cao Rui. When Cao Gun was gravely ill, Cao Rui sent the Prince of Pei to visit him^[2]. On his deathbed, Cao Gun also instructed his heir, "outside the gate, receive the instruction of the Prince of Pei"^[2], showing the Prince of Pei's standing in the family and his responsibility to instruct the heir.

Signature Scenes

* Loving learning in youth, remonstrated with by literary attendants: Cao Gun loved reading from childhood and could compose writings at little more than ten years of age. He was so absorbed in study that the literary attendants at his side feared he would harm his health by overexertion and repeatedly urged him to rest, but he took endless delight in it and could not give it up.^[1] This scene shows Cao Gun's diligent love of learning and his passion for knowledge.
* Advanced to duke, modest and self-reflective: In the second year of Huangchu, Cao Gun was advanced to the rank of duke, and his officials came to congratulate him. He, however, citing his upbringing in the depths of the palace and his ignorance of the hardships of farming, admonished his officials to assist him in remedying the faults of arrogance and extravagance.^[1] This act highlights his modest, self-disciplined character and his prudence in times of security.
* Alarmed at being praised, self-restrained and prudent: When the literary supervisors submitted a memorial praising Cao Gun's character, Cao Gun, on learning of it, was greatly alarmed and reproached them, saying that this act only added to his burden, and stressing that cultivating oneself and keeping to one's place is an ordinary person's conduct that should not be excessively publicized.^[1] This scene vividly depicts Cao Gun's character of "vigilance and self-restraint"; he well knew that with great fame comes greater responsibility, and was unwilling to grow complacent over empty repute.
* Violating a prohibition, pardoned by Emperor Ming: In the first year of Qinglong, when Cao Gun came to court, he violated a prohibition of the capital and was impeached by the responsible officials. Emperor Ming Cao Rui, mindful of kinship, reduced his fief according to law, but after Cao Gun deeply repented, restored his fief.^[2] This event shows not only Cao Gun's prudence and repentance but also Emperor Ming's balancing of clan affection against the law.
* Deathbed instructions, teaching his son frugality: On his deathbed, Cao Gun not only instructed that his funeral be kept frugal, but also left his heir a lengthy admonition. He warned his heir to know hardship, guard against arrogance and extravagance, treat people with propriety, and be filial to his parents, stressing that "rather than keep favor and incur disaster, better to be poor and humble and preserve oneself"^[2]. This scene is the concentrated expression of Cao Gun's lifelong character, showing his deep love for his descendants and his far-sighted concern for the family's long-term development, and reflecting his values of valuing frugality and guarding against arrogance and extravagance.