This stele commemorates the life of Cao Quan, a county prefect in Shaanxi Province during the Eastern Han dynasty, with a record of his achievements in governing. It includes an account of the Yellow Turban Rebellion (184) at the end of the Han dynasty. It was unearthed during the Wanli era (1573-1620) of Ming dynasty in its original site of Geyang county, Shaanxi. Due to its late uncovering, most of the inscription has been well preserved. Unfortunately, it was subsequently fractured during the Qing dynasty. It is now housed in China's Xi'an Beilin Museum. The Cao Quan stele is recognized as an outstanding example of the elegant style of late-Han clerical script calligraphy.