Cao Chong
Cao Chong (
196 –
208) was a son of the powerful
3rd century Chinese warlord Cao Cao. He was renowned as a
child prodigy, having the intelligence of an adult at the age of five. He is most well-known today for his ingenious method of weighing an
elephant using the
law of buoyancy. Unfortunately, he died of sickness at a young age of thirteen.
Cao Chong was born the eldest son of
Cao Cao and Consort Huan. According to the
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms by
Chen Shou, Cao Chong had the intelligence of an adult around the age of five and six. On one occasion, the southern warlord
Sun Quan sent a gift of an
elephant to Cao Cao, who wished to know the animal's weight. No one could think of a method but young Cao Chong had an ingenious idea. Somewhat similar to
Archimedes' solution to the legendary Problem of the Crown, Cao Chong asked to have the elephant loaded onto a boat, on which the water level was marked. The elephant was then replaced with smaller weighable objects until the boat was submerged to the same level. The weight of the elephant could then be found out by summing up the weights of all the objects.
In another incident, Cao Cao's saddle kept in the store was chewed through by rodents. The storekeepers were in great fear for their lives as laws were strict during those times of war. When Cao Chong learnt of their plight, he took a knife and cut holes in his clothings as if rats had bitten through them. He then went to see his father and complained that he feared ill luck brought by the rat bites. Cao Cao consoled him, saying it was only a superstition. Cao Chong then told Cao Cao of the damaged saddle. Cao Cao laughed and said, "Even when my son's clothings were just by his side, they could not be spared from the rats, let alone the saddle in the store." The storekeepers were then pardoned.
Cao Chong would often review cases of indicted criminals for any injustice. His intelligence and benevolence had won the love of Cao Cao, who often voiced his intention to make Cao Chong his successor. Unfortunately, Cao Chong died young. Cao Cao accordingly said to
Cao Pi, his ultimate successor: "This is my misfortune, but your good fortune."
In 221, Cao Chong was posthumously enfeoffed as Marquis Ai of Deng (鄧"侯), and was ultimately elevated to Prince Ai of Deng (鄧"王) in 231. He was succeeded by his nephew Cao Cong (曹琮) since he was without his own heir.
For a complete list, see Cao Cao.
Direct descendants
*Cao Cong (true son of Cao Ju (曹据)) (曹琮)
Immediate family
*
Cao Cao (father)
**
Cao Pi (elder half-brother)
***
Cao Rui****
Cao Fang*****
Cao Mao******
Cao Huan**
Cao Zhang (elder half-brother)
**
Cao Zhi (elder half-brother)
**
Cao Xiong (elder half-brother)
**
Cao Ang (elder half-brother)
Extended family
*
Cao Ren (uncle)
*
Cao Chun (uncle)
*
Cao Xiu (distant cousin)
*
Cao Zhen (distant cousin)
**
Cao Shuang*
*
Three Kingdoms*
Personages of the Three KingdomsChronicles of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three Kingdoms
