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The Celestial Masters (''Tiān shīdào''), also known as the Rice Thieves (''Mǐ zéi'') or the Five Pecks of Rice (''Wǔdǒu mǐ''), were a rebel group whose actions contributed significantly to the fall of the [[Han Dynasty]] in China.

The Celestial Masters (''Tiān shīdào''), also known as the Rice Thieves (''Mǐ zéi'') or the Five Pecks of Rice (''Wǔdǒu mǐ''), were a rebel group whose actions contributed significantly to the fall of the [[Han Dynasty]] in China.

Emerging during the reign of [[Emperor Shun of Han]] ([[125]]-[[144]] CE), the rebels managed to take control of much of what is today [[Sichuan province]], the breadbasket of China proper. They held much of this territory for decades, resisting the authorities, until they finally gave in to the regional warlord [[Cao Cao]] ([[155]]-[[220]]) in [[215]], swearing fealty to him.

Emerging during the reign of [[Emperor Shun of Han]] ([[125]]-[[144]] CE), the rebels managed to take control of much of what is today [[Sichuan province]], the breadbasket of [[China proper]]. They held much of this territory for decades, resisting the authorities, until they finally gave in to the regional warlord [[Cao Cao]] ([[155]]-[[220]]) in [[215]], swearing fealty to him.

Not merely a disorganized band of peasant rebels, the so-called Celestial Masters implemented an organized government within their territory. Based on the structure of the Han bureaucracy, it had one particularly key difference: each post was held not by an individual, but by a married couple.

Not merely a disorganized band of peasant rebels, the so-called Celestial Masters implemented an organized government within their territory. Based on the structure of the Han bureaucracy, it had one particularly key difference: each post was held not by an individual, but by a married couple.