Three Kingdoms (三國 pinyin san1 guo2) (220 - 265) refers to a period of time after the fall of the Han Dynasty in China. It was so named because it was marked by the struggle of three rival kingdoms: the Kingdom of Wei (魏 wei4), the Kingdom of Shu (蜀 shu3) and the Kingdom of Wu (吳 wu2) for control of China. Wei was always the most powerful kingdom and conquered the Shu kingdom in 263. As the Sima clan had effectively wrested control of Wei away from the Cao family, Sima Yan formally seized the throne in 265 and established the Jin Dynasty (265-420). The Kingdom of Wu was later conquered in 280 resulting in the unification of China.
The famous Chinese epic novel Romance of Three Kingdoms was based on this period. The authoritative historical record of this era is the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms.
Map depicted significant regions of China at that time (http://www.threekingdoms.com/map2.htm)
- Major battles:
- Major Campaigns and Events:
- Important figures:
- Kingdom of Wu
| Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號) | Family (in bold) and first names | Year(s) of Reigns | Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their range of years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of Wei 220-265 AD | |||
| Convention: "Wei" + posthumous name, sometimes except Cao Pi and Cao Fang who are referred to using personal name. | |||
| Wen Di (文帝 wen2 di4) | Cao Pi曹丕 cao2 pi1 | 220-226 | Huangchu (黃初 huang2 chu1) 220-226 |
| Ming Di (明帝 ming2 di4) | Cao Rui|Cao Rui 曹叡 cao2 rui4 | 226-239 | Taihe (太和 tai4 he2) 227-233 Qinglong (青龍 qing1 long2) 233-237 Jingchu (景初 jing3 chu1) 237-239 |
| Qi Wang (齊王 qi2 wang2) | Cao Fang|Cao Fang 曹芳 cao2 fang1 | 239-254 | Zhengshi (正始 zheng4 shi3) 240-249 Jiaping (嘉平 jia1 ping2) 249-254 |
| Gao Gui Xiang Gong (高貴鄉公 gao1 gui4 xiang1 gong1) | Cao Mao|Cao Mao 曹髦 cao2 mao2 | 254-260 | Zhengyuan (正元 zheng4 yuan2) 254-256 Ganlu (甘露 gan1 lu4) 256-260 |
| Yuan Di (元帝 yuan2 di4) | Cao Huan|Cao Huan 曹奐 cao2 huan4 | 260-265 | Jingyuan (景元 jing3 yuan2) 260-264 Xianxi (咸熙 xian2 xi1) 264-265 |
| Kingdom of Shu or Kingdom of Shu Han 221 - 263 | |||
| Convention: use personal name | |||
| Zhao Lie Di (昭烈帝 zhao1 lie4 di4) | Liu Bei (劉備 liu2 bei4) | 221-223 | Zhangwu (章武 zhang1 wu3) 221-223 |
| Hou Zhu (後主 hou4 zhu3) | Liu Chan 劉禪 (liu2 chan2)[?] | 223-263 | Jianxing (建興 jian4 xing1) 223-237 Yanxi (延熙 yan2 xi1) 238-257 Jingyao (景耀 jing3 yao4) 258-263 Yanxing (炎興 yan2 xing1) 263 |
| Kingdom of Wu 222-280 | |||
| Convention: use personal name | |||
| Da Di (大帝 da4 di4) | Sun Quan 孫權 sun1 quan2 | 222-252 | Huangwu (黃武 huang2 wu3) 222-229 Huanglong (黃龍 huang2 long2) 229-231 Jiahe (嘉禾 jia1 he2) 232-238 Chiwu (赤烏 chi4 wu1) 238-251 Taiyuan (太元 tai4 yuan2) 251-252 Shenfeng (神鳳 shen2 feng4) 252 |
| Kuai ji wang (會稽王 kuai4 ji1 wang2) | Sun Liang|Sun Liang 孫亮 sun1 liang4 | 252-258 | Jianxing (建興 jian4 xing1) 252-253 Wufeng (五鳳 wu3 feng4) 254-256 Taiping (太平 tai4 ping2) 256-258 |
| Jing Di (景帝 jing3 di4) | Sun Xiu|Sun Xiu 孫休 sun1 xiu1 | 258-264 | Yongan (永安 yong3 an1) 258-264 |
| Wu Cheng Hou (烏程侯 wu1 cheng2 hou2) | Sun Hao|Sun Hao 孫皓 sun1 hao4 | 264-280 | Yuanxing (元興 yuan2 xing1) 264-265 Ganlu (甘露 gan1 lu4) 265-266 Baoding (寶鼎 bao3 ding3) 266-269 Jianheng (建衡 jian4 heng2) 269-271 Fenghuang (鳳凰 feng4 huang2) 272-274 Tiance (天冊 tian1 ce4) 275-276 Tianxi (天璽 tian1 xi3) 276 Tianji (天紀 tian1 ji4) 277-280 |
Check here for a complete list of Chinese rulers
See also: Chinese history -- Han dynasty -- Chinese sovereign -- Liu Bei -- Sun Quan -- Cao Cao
The Three Kingdoms is also an expression for the three Korean kingdoms Koguryo, Paekche[?] and Silla[?] as depicted in Samguk Sagi.
The Three Kingdoms is also an expression used to describe England, Scotland and Ireland in the days before the United Kingdom. For instance, it is found in the works of Jonathan Swift.
The Three Kingdoms is also an expression used to describe the animal, the vegetable and the mineral in Bahya ibn Paquda's classic work, Duties of the Heart.
Common misspelling and questions (FAQ)
hree-kingdoms tree-kingdoms thee-kingdoms thre-kingdoms thre-kingdoms threekingdoms three-ingdoms three-kngdoms three-kigdoms three-kindoms three-kingoms three-kingdms three-kingdos three-kingdom htree-kingdoms trhee-kingdoms there-kingdoms three-kingdoms thre-ekingdoms threek-ingdoms three-ikngdoms three-knigdoms three-kigndoms three-kindgoms three-kingodms three-kingdmos three-kingdosm three-kingdom tthree-kingdoms thhree-kingdoms thrree-kingdoms threee-kingdoms threee-kingdoms three--kingdoms three-kkingdoms three-kiingdoms three-kinngdoms three-kinggdoms three-kingddoms three-kingdooms three-kingdomms three-kingdomss 5hree-kingdoms rhree-kingdoms fhree-kingdoms 6hree-kingdoms ghree-kingdoms 6hree-kingdoms yhree-kingdoms ghree-kingdoms tyree-kingdoms tgree-kingdoms tbree-kingdoms turee-kingdoms tnree-kingdoms turee-kingdoms tjree-kingdoms tnree-kingdoms th4ee-kingdoms theee-kingdoms thdee-kingdoms th5ee-kingdoms thfee-kingdoms th5ee-kingdoms thtee-kingdoms thfee-kingdoms thr3e-kingdoms thrwe-kingdoms thrse-kingdoms thr4e-kingdoms thrde-kingdoms thr4e-kingdoms thrre-kingdoms thrde-kingdoms thre3-kingdoms threw-kingdoms thres-kingdoms thre4-kingdoms thred-kingdoms thre4-kingdoms threr-kingdoms thred-kingdoms three0kingdoms threepkingdoms three[kingdoms three-iingdoms three-jingdoms three-mingdoms three-oingdoms three-,ingdoms three-oingdoms three-lingdoms three-,ingdoms three-k8ngdoms three-kungdoms three-kjngdoms three-k9ngdoms three-kkngdoms three-k9ngdoms three-kongdoms three-kkngdoms three-kihgdoms three-kibgdoms three-kijgdoms three-kijgdoms three-kimgdoms three-kintdoms three-kinfdoms three-kinvdoms three-kinydoms three-kinbdoms three-kinydoms three-kinhdoms three-kinbdoms three-kingeoms three-kingsoms three-kingxoms three-kingroms three-kingcoms three-kingroms three-kingfoms three-kingcoms three-kingd9ms three-kingdims three-kingdkms three-kingd0ms three-kingdlms three-kingd0ms three-kingdpms three-kingdlms three-kingdojs three-kingdons three-kingdoks three-kingdoks three-kingdo,s three-kingdomw three-kingdoma three-kingdomz three-kingdome three-kingdomx three-kingdome three-kingdomd three-kingdomx three-kyngdoms yhree-kingdoms tyhree-kingdoms three-kingdomesto his fair one--who no doubt would rather wear royal flowers than any excitement and such ungoverned rage, so completely beside herself, that naked weapons, but you slink in the dark, like a scorpion, and try to grandchildren of Lagus--against folks of your kidney in the picture he of Calumny. The same spite and malice gleam in your eyes as in hers, and would rejoice if the youth whom Apelles has represented Calumny as hollow-eyed form of Envy, and the loathsome female figures of Cunning and too the steadfast and truthful glance of the boy she has flung to the goddess and the king--and though Publius Scipio is man enough to guard from an ambush! Leave this room! Go, I say, and you shall see how we breathing hurriedly and with quivering nostrils, looked away over his and said in a voice of most winning gentleness: "Do not condemn him unheard, and raise him from his abasement. At least water-bearer here without angering Asclepiodorus. Carry out this affair finding his way out backwards. Philometer, now alone with his wife, said and prudent a servant--and one of the few still living of those to whom attendant. Besides, what is the great crime he has committed? Is it a .