Cao Cao
Cao Cao Chinese 曹操 Transcriptions Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Cáo Cāo Wade–Giles Ts'ao2 Ts'ao1 Min Hokkien POJ Tsô Tshau Cantonese Jyutping Cou4 Cou1 Yale Romanization Chòuh Chōu Middle Chinese Middle Chinese Dzaw Tsʰaw Old Chinese Baxter-Sagart *N-tsˤu tsʰˤaw This is a Chinese name; the family name is Cao. Cao Cao (IPA: [tsʰɑ ʊ tsʰɑ ʊ]; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde, was a warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty who rose to great power in the final years of the dynasty. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously honoured as "Emperor Wu of Wei". Although he is often portrayed as a cruel and merciless tyrant, Cao Cao has also been praised as a brilliant ruler and military genius who treated his subordinates like his family. He was also skilled in poetry and martial arts and wrote many war journals.