Duke Gong of Cao

Duke Gong of Cao

Duke Gong of Cao (? – 618 BCE) (Chinese: ; pinyin: Cáo Gòng Gōng) was the seventeenth ruler of the vassal State of Cao during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period (770475 BCE). Born Xiāng (姬襄) he was the son of Duke Zhao of Cao.

In 637 BCE, during the exile of Chóngěr, son of Duke Xian of Jin, Duke Gòng heard that Chóngěr suffered from fused ribs and wanted to see for himself. Chóngěr caught Duke Gòng spying on him whilst he bathed and described the Duke as a man ofunbelievable rudeness[1].

After Chóngěr became Duke Wen of Jin and one of the Five Hegemons, in 632 he used Duke Gòngs previous rudeness as an excuse to overthrow the State of Cao. Duke Gòng was captured by the State of Jin but later released.

After Duke Gòng of Cáo died in 618 BCE, his son Duke Wén of Cáo became ruler.

References

  1. ^ Zuo Zhuan, “The Death of Chóngěr”《晉公子重耳之亡
Duke Gong of Cao
State of Cao
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Duke Zhao of Cao (曹昭公)
Ruler of Cao
652 BC618 BC
Succeeded by
Duke Wen of Cao (曹文公)