Xin Xianying (191–269) was a Chinese noblewoman,
aristocrat and
advisor who lived during the
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty and wa ...
period. She was the daughter of
Xin Pi, an official of the state of
. The only extant historical source about her life is her biography written by her maternal grandson,
Xiahou Zhan
Xiahou () is a Chinese compound surname from the Spring and Autumn period. After the State of Qi was destroyed by Chu, Duke Jian of Qi's ( 杞简公) younger brother, Prince Tuo (公子佗), fled to the State of Lu. Duke Dao of Lu ( 鲁悼公) ...
(夏侯湛), who was a notable scholar and official of the
Jin dynasty.
[(... 外孫夏侯湛為其傳曰： ...) ''Shiyu'' annotation in ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 25.] She is best known for giving advice to her family members and relatives during significant events in the history of Cao Wei such as the
Incident at Gaoping Tombs and
Zhong Hui's Rebellion.
Family background
Xin Xianying's
ancestral home was in Yangzhai County (陽翟縣),
Yingchuan Commandery (潁川郡), which is around present-day
Yuzhou, Henan. Her ancestors were actually from Longxi Commandery (隴西郡; around present-day
Dingxi,
Gansu), but they migrated to Yingchuan Commandery during the Jianwu era (25–56 CE) of the reign of
Emperor Guangwu in the early
Eastern Han dynasty.
Xin Xianying's father,
Xin Pi, served as an official under the warlord
Cao Cao
Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name